On Foraging for Edible Foods

            I read an article sometime back decrying our American preoccupation of cultivating green, grassy, lawns.  It went something like this.

            We plant grass, we fertilize it, and we water it. Then we cut it. We haul it off. We  mow with expensive lawn mowers that need gas and oil . All expensive. We cut the grass, collect it in piles, and then discard the very grass that we have been working so hard to grow. Then the process starts all over again. We do it over and over.

            We deplete valuable, fertile soil to raise our grass, so we fertilize so that we can grow more…and all this time we are diligently working at getting  rid of the varmint weeds…you know, the dandelions and the lambs quarter.

            We are such lemmings. I don't even know if we know why we invest such time and money in growing grass! We just do.

            In California, there is a terrible water shortage. But even before that drought became serious, a movement was escalating among the "yuppie" crowd to forget grass and grow food instead. Even front yard rock gardens could be attractively arranged with edibles. You know, like olden times! A garden! There's a site aimed at this pursuit and it is www.foodnotlawns.com . Take a look. Maybe get some tips?

            But there's more to this story. I have discovered and am learning slowwwwwly that there are many edible plants around that we are discarding or ignoring. We are totally clueless. Such knowledge has disappeared among this "modern" and very dependent population.

            Some of you know. You recognize these natural edible herbs, berries, tubers, and the like.  Not me. I am still at the kindergarten level.

             Let's look at Dandelions.  Do you know that they are good to eat? This free food is right under our noses. But, we dig them up, or spray them to keep them from spreading. The lowly Dandelion happens to be a great source of iron, Vitamins A and C, Calcium and many other vitamins and minerals. The yellow head is the edible part. It must be picked early in the Spring. The harvested  head can be dipped in egg and bread crumbs; then fried for a delicious snack. If you try this be sure it hasn't been sprayed with herbicides. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgh_qo--QJ8

            There are scads of books available on Amazon relating to the edible plants among our natural vegetation.

            Fred hunts Morel mushrooms. Yes, you need to know what you are hunting .The Morel is distinctive in its appearance.

            The  native sand hill plums are ripening now. They make delicious jelly and jams. And most of the time, these bushes are available to any one for the picking.

            Elderberries are delicious too. They hang in clusters on bushes and are deep purple. The only reason I don't pick them is because I am a bit lazy. But I am turning over a new leaf! No pun intended.

            Lamb's Quarter is another available naturally grown vegetable. Once you recognize its distinctive look, you will find it. Lamb's Quarter makes great salads, and is similar in taste to fresh spinach.

            Day Lilies can be eaten as well.  Prolific in the wild or in the garden, they open in the morning and close at night. They bear flowers, blossoms, and shriveled blooms (all edible)  at the same time and are distant cousins of the onion. Their tubers are edible as well, and can be harvested in early April or late October. The tubers look like thin potatoes and can be boiled. The flower petals and buds can be picked and dipped in egg and bread crumbs and fried. Once fried on both sides, they resemble bacon, and taste sweet with a bit of zing. Look up "Blanche Cybele Derby? on You Tube and watch some of her videos.

            If you are like me, this information might overwhelm, and yet, it intrigues one to know more. People actually used to know this information.

            We are accustomed to running to the grocery store for food, but we might want to recognize other sources for food.  At least, if nothing else, plant something that can be eaten. . It's not hard. Ask Fred.

             The abundant returns are, well, rewarding! 

On Making a Bucket List

            Have you ever thought about making a "bucket list"? Are there secret dreams or hopes that you have stifled or given up ever achieving?  Do you have a passionate interest in something that has of yet been pushed to "someday"?

            I hope that we have dreams, hopes and goals  that we have not yet achieved. But many of us are running in so many directions that we don't take the time to consider even one option.

            Is this you?

            The movie, "The Bucket List," released in 2007, starred Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The two were portrayed as two elderly, terminally ill men who escaped from a Cancer treatment hospital to head off on a road trip to fulfill a list of "to-dos" before they die. The film was a heart-warming and message friendly story.

            This "bucket list" idea took off like wildfire in this country. Eventually, the "bucket list" concept transitioned from applying just to the aged to being pertinent to all ages.

            Having said all of this, I now find that creating a "bucket list" takes a great deal of time and thought. It doesn't happen during the rush of our daily lives.  Maybe sometimes a desire can fall on one during mind crowding moments. But, recognized and verbalized thoughts and hopes take time to travel from the heart to the head, and then out the mouth.

            Young couples have dreams that are easy to list. A home of their own, a family vacation to Disney World, a nice car, or a good job are only a few of their goals and dreams.  Then there are hopes such as healing, restoration of marriages, world peace. But these are not what I am referring to at this time.  These are prayerful and deep needs..

            No, a "bucket list" is a compilation of those things you want to see, hear, touch, taste before your last days on earth.

            Are you dead yet? Are you in the grave? Then, you might want to consider that there TRULY are a number of things you would like to do.

            Amazon sells a "Bucket List Journal" that offers to motivate and lead some of us totally empty headed, dull souls who do not know where to begin. I tend to be content and totally "que sera, sera", but that's not always an interesting approach to life, now is it?

            Here are some of the leading items on Bucket Lists. Maybe now, you can get started and use a few of these suggestions? I did not list them all here.

            Please don't let my comments discourage you. Go for it!

             Take a road trip. (mmm. That's a no brainer. But where?)

            Hike down Grand Canyon. (I will need a back pack filled with chocolates for that one)

            Go parachute jumping (Nah. I would die just standing there looking out the plane door)

            Go to Antarctica  (Do you suppose they have a Starbucks there?)

            Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans. (After about five minutes of that, I would probably say, "enough" )

            Save a life (Most of us already have done that! Our kids, for one thing!)

            Stand in a Prison cell in Alcatraz. (I have done that. It's pretty stark)

            Visit Berlin, explore Iceland, visit Croatia, visit Rome,

            Pet a Penguin (Do they bite?)

            Fly first class. (My kids do that. We go coach!)

            Visit Argentina's Iguazu Falls ( Again, plenty of chocolate bars in my back pack)

            Climb Mt. Kilmanjaro  ( pant pant)

            Stay in an ice hotel in Sweden. (Can you bring your electric blanket?)

            Learn how to ride a bike. (And attach a basket for your chocolate)

            Kayak through caves. ( not in Anarctica, I hope)

            Am I hopeless or what?

            Any one can lose his way and find that he has lost tomorrow because of the burdens of today. So let's start listing what we want for tomorrow!

            Something wonderful happens inside when one re-thinks goals, writes them down, declares them to others, prays about them, and looks forward to tomorrow.

            This is not a time to dwell on the negativity and hopelessness that seems to be permeating our society. It's there. But this is the time to look up and look inward to find those things that still call you/us to tomorrow.

            I am starting a new list today

On the Fall Garden

            The garden is slowing down. So is Fred.

            The grasshoppers are speeding up. The mob is prolifically increasing and dive bombing anything they can chew up.

            And I, like the garden, (and Fred) am slowing down too. But I am also dive bombing what veggies are left.

            My Bible study friends think I am just a bet "tetched" in the head. They observe the canned tomatoes on the counter and know that I have been on a canning frenzy lately.  They wonder about me because they, like me, have slowed down too. And they have no desire to "can" anything.

            But, I like to can. I love fresh canned tomatoes in my stews and soups in the winter. I enjoy the onions and can't have too many of those either.

            I have made peace with the garden.

            It wasn't always that way.

            I married Fred. He is a planter. He inherited his mother's passion and loves to see things grow.

            Every single, cotton-picking year!

            He plants a garden whether we need one or not. And he never misses his scheduled St.Patrick's day planting of the potatoes (ceremony).

            I used to feel overwhelmed and a little bit peeved when he would tromp into the kitchen with potatoes, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, squash, green peppers, and whatever else the summer garden provided. He would put the bucket on the floor in front of the sink, and load the sink and accompanying colander with more .

            But he trained me and I learned the ropes after about 30 years. Note: It took 30 years!

            However, I trained him too.

            He takes off his garden shoes at the back door.

            He washes the potatoes outside.( That was the routine anyway until a few years ago when we discovered that potatoes keep longer if one leaves the garden soil on them).

            He helps get the produce into the refrigerators before their usefulness is obliterated by the outside warmth.

            So, O.K. he helps. You get that.

            What I have learned is that we all need to eat more real food. I define real food as food in its natural state. Food that has not been chemicalized, pasteurized, process-ized, or ruin-ized. We should eat food that is in its total original state as much as possible. And spraying is not good, but often necessary.

            About fifteen years ago, something went "click" in my brain cells.

            I began to enjoy cooking about as much as I enjoy eating!

            I no longer become angry at the potatoes and cucumbers. I made friends with the tomatoes. We gave as many away as we kept too!

            Fred took over making the cucumber, onion, and vinegar mixture that most of us enjoy. We learned to add tomatoes, chopped up in chunks, and the mixture made a great substitute for a salad.

            Some of you younger marrieds may not know about this recipe, so here it is probably too late in the season.

            Peel and slice 4 or 5 cucumbers into a large bowl

            Slice and dice a whole onion, preferably white. ( a red onion will color the mixture)

             Add vinegar, salt, and water to the bowl and add sugar to your liking. The mixture should be strong but not overpowering, and the sugar should only tone down the vinegar so you don't need much…perhaps 5 Tablespoons. (yes you can substitute artificial sweeteners)

            Cover the cucumber, onion mixture and refrigerate. Add cucumbers and onions; even tomatoes whenever you choose.

             Now that it is Fall, I am glad, happy, content, joyous, and at peace with the grasshoppers.

            All good things come to an end.

            And next Spring I will again be ready for the next garden! My attitude will be expectant, and I will be nice to Fred.

A Tale of Political Correctness

            I have been lately pondering a Children's Classic written and published in 1837 by Hans Christian Anderson.

            It really is not a children's story however. It's a tale of our society and world.

            "The Emperor's New Clothes" tells of two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, no one DARES to say that he doesn't see any suit of clothes until a child cries out," But he isn't wearing anything at all!"

            Leave it up to an innocent child who would unabashedly shout exactly what he saw.

            Imagine the fear and the reluctance of the citizenry in this story to tell the truth. After all, an open declaration that the Emperor was naked would reap the accusation of being "incompetent, stupid, or unfit for any position". And who knows what would happen to the poor, honest citizen then?

            Sound familiar?

            This story is relevant today. The truth is constantly skewed.  Repeat a crazy explanation enough times and it will eventually become a valid fact to the ears of the receivers. No matter how ridiculous the tale may be, it eventually becomes palatable, either because the hearers are worn out from hearing it, or because they have forgotten how the original tale began.

            There's nothing new under the sun, is there? We keep falling for the same tricks.

            Whether it's an exaggerated lie of the press, a defensive position of the those in authority, or simply one of your kids making up a ridiculous story to explain what really happened?   It's all the same.

            Any one who chooses to speak TRUTH risks being verbally maimed, defaced, or accused of stupidity.

            No one wants to be judged as incompetent, stupid, or unfit!

            We are in a stupor. (That's where the word "stupid" comes from) Or we are cowards. Or we are just plain ignorant of what is going on.

            Never have things been so crazy and skewed.  Up is down, right is wrong, wrong is right, good is bad, and so on.  

            We have all heard the lion story…over, and over, and over. People are in an uproar!

            On the other hand, human babies who could survive out of the womb , are being extricated from the womb, carefully destroyed as to not damage their organs, and methodically cut to pieces.

            And we hear hardly a peep over that atrocity. Oh, but funding the atrocity? Yes, by all means!

            Or how about this?  23 American veterans commit suicide every day. No one cares. One lion gets killed and people are rabid.

            What is the matter with us? Have we believed the constant barrage of mind altering logic telling us that animal life is precious while human life, created in the image of God, is worthless and cheap?  Or do we acknowledge in our hearts that the system is naked, and blind, and off track.

             Could it be that we do not want to speak up because we might be accused of stupidity, simple mindedness, or incompetence?

            We once lived in a society where respect for human life, and using common sense was the pervasive argument for our policies. Sure, doublespeak and corruption went on, but the general public ran on solid, moral values.

            Is there a child among us? Hey, child! Will you shout the truth? 

            Maybe the national news media will notice his cry and tell it like it is.

            I hope so.

           Co 

On Triathlons

          A local woman, in her early 50's, a avid runner, recently signed up for an Ironman triathlon a month ago. She, Marcy, is nervous. I can't imagine!

            You see, Fred and I were once runners! No, excuse me! Not runners. Joggers.

Fred jogged at an acceptable man's pace, and I jogged at MY pace. The definition of my actions commonly referred to as "jogging" is this: bouncing up and down, slowly, with the intent of moving slightly faster than a walk.

            There.

            However, I did run once in the Fourth of July two mile event. It taught me that I didn't want to try that ever again.

            While reading the Ironman rules that Marcy has probably read ten times (so that she doesn't miss anything), I came upon some interesting, well defined prohibitions for runners.

            No doubt, the WTC which sponsors "Ironman" competition, has had to define in great detail every iota of action that could be taken by athletes during the competition! There are always some who think of some new way to get the advantage.

            Here's a few interesting rules that apply depending on the race. (swim, bike, run) To break them would mean likely disqualification.

            Fair play, equality, and sportsmanship are always the first rules printed out for any competition. Respect for the authorities , referees, volunteers, spectators, etc. is written and explained thoroughly.( Being rude, challenging the authority, or shooting off the mouth results in erasure of your existence)

            Now said, keep in mind that the following rules have no doubt evolved over time because of infractions. Let your mind imagine.

            Avoid indecent exposure and public nudity at all times during the event. Such displays may result in disqualification. (The less clothes, the less friction, the faster one goes?) They don't need to worry about me breaking that rule!

            Athletes may run, crawl, or walk the course. (I would definitely be crawling!)

            Swimwear must not cover the neck, must not extend past the shoulder, and must not extend past the knees.(Whatever they could be hiding, they would try)

            Swimwear must be 100% textile material (natural or synthetics) and may not be rubberized material such a polyurethane or neoprene.  (Don't you just know someone had floaties inserted in the clothes somewhere?!)

            Wetsuit can be no more than five millimeters thick. (The more the rubber, the more it floats?)

            No using communication devices during the competition

            No wearing of headsets, or headphones.  (what possibly could be talked about during such an exhausting race?)

            No drugs (well, shoot. Killjoys!) I've got to bear the pain?

            No bare torsos. (Can't you imagine that someone didn't consider that rule of nudity applied here?)

            Must wear official (color coded by group?) swim caps during swim competition. (Unless it accidentally gets kicked off by some enthusiastic swimmer flailing by)

            Failure to follow prescribed course. (shortcuts anyone?)

            No helping other athletes with a complete bike, a frame, wheels, helmet, bike shoes, etc. (They've tried everything in the past obviously. Fred would not be able to even pump up my tire!)

            And did you know there is a disciplinary tent for those who commit infractions that do not lead to disqualification. The tent discipline confinement adds 5 minutes to the competitors time, plus the time they lose sitting there.( The naughty competitor can eat his own snacks but cannot use the time to go to the restroom. That is a separate time-sensitive break on him. Kind of like being made to sit in the corner as a kid!

            Reading these rules confirms to me that I didn't break any of these back then. But maybe I would have taken a short cut had I thought of one to take!

            And once again, I am reminded of how devious our little minds can be in trying to get ahead, and find a shortcut! 

            It's just the way mankind is!

On Edible Food

           

      

   I read an article sometime back decrying our American preoccupation of cultivating green, grassy, lawns.  It went something like this.

            We plant grass, we fertilize it, and we water it. Then we cut it. We haul it off. We  mow with expensive lawn mowers that need gas and oil . All expensive. We cut the grass, collect it in piles, and then discard the very grass that we have been working so hard to grow. Then the process starts all over again. We do it over and over.

            We deplete valuable, fertile soil to raise our grass, so we fertilize so that we can grow more…and all this time we are diligently working at getting  rid of the varmint weeds…you know, the dandelions and the lambs quarter.

            We are such lemmings. I don't even know if we know why we invest such time and money in growing grass! We just do.

            In California, there is a terrible water shortage. But even before that drought became serious, a movement was escalating among the "yuppie" crowd to forget grass and grow food instead. Even front yard rock gardens could be attractively arranged with edibles. You know, like olden times! A garden! There's a site aimed at this pursuit and it is www.foodnotlawns.com . Take a look. Maybe get some tips?

            But there's more to this story. I have discovered and am learning slowwwwwly that there are many edible plants around that we are discarding or ignoring. We are totally clueless. Such knowledge has disappeared among this "modern" and very dependent population.

            Some of you know. You recognize these natural edible herbs, berries, tubers, and the like.  Not me. I am still at the kindergarten level.

             Let's look at Dandelions.  Do you know that they are good to eat? This free food is right under our noses. But, we dig them up, or spray them to keep them from spreading. The lowly Dandelion happens to be a great source of iron, Vitamins A and C, Calcium and many other vitamins and minerals. The yellow head is the edible part. It must be picked early in the Spring. The harvested  head can be dipped in egg and bread crumbs; then fried for a delicious snack. If you try this be sure it hasn't been sprayed with herbicides. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgh_qo--QJ8

            There are scads of books available on Amazon relating to the edible plants among our natural vegetation.

            Fred hunts Morel mushrooms. Yes, you need to know what you are hunting .The Morel is distinctive in its appearance.

            The  native sand hill plums are ripening now. They make delicious jelly and jams. And most of the time, these bushes are available to any one for the picking.

            Elderberries are delicious too. They hang in clusters on bushes and are deep purple. The only reason I don't pick them is because I am a bit lazy. But I am turning over a new leaf! No pun intended.

            Lamb's Quarter is another available naturally grown vegetable. Once you recognize its distinctive look, you will find it. Lamb's Quarter makes great salads, and is similar in taste to fresh spinach.

            Day Lilies can be eaten as well.  Prolific in the wild or in the garden, they open in the morning and close at night. They bear flowers, blossoms, and shriveled blooms (all edible)  at the same time and are distant cousins of the onion. Their tubers are edible as well, and can be harvested in early April or late October. The tubers look like thin potatoes and can be boiled. The flower petals and buds can be picked and dipped in egg and bread crumbs and fried. Once fried on both sides, they resemble bacon, and taste sweet with a bit of zing. Look up "Blanche Cybele Derby? on You Tube and watch some of her videos.

            If you are like me, this information might overwhelm, and yet, it intrigues one to know more. People actually used to know this information.

            We are accustomed to running to the grocery store for food, but we might want to recognize other sources for food.  At least, if nothing else, plant something that can be eaten. . It's not hard. Ask Fred.

             The abundant returns are, well, rewarding!

On Past Dressing Styles

Fred and I will be traveling to my 55 High School reunion this summer. I have been digging out old pictures for the video that will be shown then. And on top of that,  

Fred and I recently attended the 50^th Wedding Anniversary celebration of two good friends, Otis and Greta. There were pictures everywhere.  As I looked at the many memories, I thought how much we forget about our lives.

            Such reminiscences those pictures evoke! Where has the time gone?

            I noticed the dress attire both in the wedding photos and my high school pictures. I couldn't help but observe that no one was overweight!  I refer to my teachers, the guests at the wedding…all the pictures of the common population in the photos. Everyone was a normal weight. We know that these folks ate well.  I asked myself "What has gone wrong in this country with all these heavy people?"

            Some of these pictures caused me to ponder. I hope my descriptions bring up some memories for you. You younger ones are going to get a good history lesson!

            Women wore dresses, and skirts and sweaters, most of the time. We owned hats for special occasions. I wore hats to church and I remember when the "whimsy" came into style. Gloves were a common "dress up" item as well.  

             "Panty hose" were non-existent in the 50's and early 60's. But stockings were a normal part of our dress attire. We secured the stockings with garter belts. The hose didn't come up totally on the thigh, so the garter belts had to reach down the top of the leg to connect with the top of the stocking. Was that uncomfortable? I don't remember. It's just the way it was.

            The guys wore slacks, button down collar shirts, and narrow belts. But the fashion Fred remembers the most is that the guys wore jeans rolled up; penny loafers with a real penny in the slot, and shirts with the short sleeves rolled up. If you were a real daring guy, you stuck a pack of cigarettes in the rolled up sleeve. The "ducktail" was a popular hair style among some of the crowd.

            We shouldn't forget the "letter jacket" either. The guys wore them proudly, and the girls wore the guy's class ring on her finger (with tape wrapped around the ring so that it would fit) if she was going "steady".

             We girls wore saddle shoes and both guys and gals wore white bucks. The "white bucks" were nappy, white, sporty oxford-type shoes. We carried a little chalk pillow to tidy them up with they got scuffed.

            Angora sweaters were the rage for a time. We wore little scarves around our necks. Does anyone remember the fuzzy colored balls on a string that also were worn around the neck?  The scarves were a longer lasting fashion. But the little fuzzy balls on a string were definitely accents to our school wardrobe.

            Somewhere in the early 50's, the see-through blouses became popular. I bet our teachers went ballistic in the teacher's lounge. We had "slips" then that we wore underneath, but still….

            Clothes were laundered in automatic washers by the time we were in college in the 60's, but in the 50's, we washed clothes with ringer washers. Water was hosed into the washer, and the machine rotated the clothes. Once washed, each item then had to be lifted out with a spoon or stick (the water was hot), and run through the ringer. I had heard stories of fingers and hands caught in the ringer so I was very careful. The same water washed several loads, (whites first and colored next) and once the clothes were removed, the washer was emptied, refilled with rinse water, and the process of rinsing all those rung clothes again began.

            We hung clothes to dry outside or in our basements during the winter. In my hometown in the north, the clothes often froze on the outside line, and they remained there until they eventually dried. Once in the house, the clothes were sprinkled with a bottle of water with a stopper in the top. We rolled them up to get good and damp, and then ironed them.

            What a tremendous luxury it was to own a modern washer and drier. Many went to the Laundromat to wash clothes, and of course, still do.

            It's amazing how fashions and society has changed. But the kids still take as much time and expense to dress cool. That's not changed. However, today no in that crowd irons clothing. Oh I know some of you are saying right now, "Well, I do!" me too.  We are not those "no ones." No one wears an item of clothing twice. Our modern laundering tools waste water…And maybe, just maybe, we will return to some of those habits from the past.

             They say the pendulum swings.        

                       

On Cleaning the Cabinets

            I am getting ready for a mob of company next week. The weekend of June 12 and 13 is Santa Fe Trail Days in Larned, and our kids and relatives are coming to visit.  

            I decided I had better get hopping. You know, get ready for the group.

            Clean house, you say? Oh no, I am far beyond that simple concept. No, I decided to clean and rearrange all my cupboards in the kitchen so that I could find places for the items on the countertops.

            Fred wonders about me. He remarked as he was tromping through the kitchen in his garden shoes, leaving dirt on the floor, "Why are you doing that? It's not important."

            You see, Fred is busy in the garden, weeding and hoeing. I could ask the same.

            I started with the 3 tiered circular, turning, spice shelves. If I could consolidate them, then I could move things from the …well, its like "musical chairs".

            I peered into the cabinet, wet washcloth in hand.

            I am so embarrassed. I think I have bought a few duplications." I must be losing it", I thought.

            Let me tell you in all honesty what I saw as  I peered into those shelves, standing on a stool to get a glimpse before I sorted the mess.

            There were five packages or containers of toothpicks. Two packs were the fatter, substantially larger, old timers, and the rest were the new sliver-thin kinds. I guess I thought we needed more?

            I found six boxes of baking soda, four jars of honey, six or seven salt shakers, six full packages of fine ground sea salt, and two bags of coarse salt, three partial jars of instant coffee, and 2 ½ boxes of Splenda.

            No wonder the shelves were full.

            My greatest shock was the eight containers (Crystal Light) of drink mixes, and five little squeeze containers of flavoring for water. What have I been thinking? Or maybe the question should be, "What have I been drinking?".

            As I stretched to reach the top shelf, I discovered a gold mine up there. There were three jars of bouillon, two packages of large cupcake papers, two boxes of Hershey's cocoa with one only holding about two tablespoons of cocoa, and three bottles of vanilla. As I dug around with my washcloth in hand, I recovered two full sets of food coloring, and a box of corn holders.

            Here's my two cent advice. If you yearn for more cupboard space, start weeding out the extras.  You won't believe what you find! I challenge you!

            While drinking coffee with Velma and Goldie this morning, I polled them about their experiences. Goldie says that she still has spices in her cabinets that belonged to her mother who died forty four years ago. OK, then.

            Velma is short in stature, and her cupboards are way too tall for her. She doesn't know what is on the top shelf of her spice cabinet. She operates like me, "Out of sight, out of mind".

             She explained that her "Rufus" likes to buy in large quantities "just in case" they run out. She found two large containers of cinnamon there. Rufus rationalizes that if one is good, two is better. Velma says she won't have to buy cinnamon ever again in her life.

            I guess!

            Now, let's proceed to the cupboard cleaning adventure.

            I was on a roll as I continued to dig and discard. I combined bottles of like substances, threw out the little bits here and there, and put extra stuff like salt and pepper shakers, plastic bins, etc. in a box for the budget shop.

            I found places for things that I had never imagined before and now the cupboards were clean and clear. I juggled this stuff to that place, and emptied other locations. I found a place to hide the toaster, the bread box, and the dish drainer.

            Does that feel good or what?

             I don't know if our guests will inspect my organized cabinets. Nor will they care. But I care. I have gained two empty drawers from this effort and I cannot wait to fill them….with junk.

On Technology and Our Automobiles

            Fred and I bought some new wheels last year.

            We like the car. It drives well. It fulfills its purpose.

            But, in many ways, it's still a mystery to both of us!

             It's full of gadgets. And most of all those do-dads are impossible to operate! They certainly were not required by Fred and me.  Our obvious conclusion is that technology has finally superseded its efficiency .

            "Why do you say such a thing, Annie?" you ask.

            "We are not driving a car. We are operating a dang mobile computer. The ONLY thing it doesn't do is fly".

             While on our way to the movies recently with another couple, we tried to turn on the rear air for them. While fiddling with every control and touch activation possible, we succeeded in activating the back seat heat air, full blast. They sweltered while we fumbled with every control imaginable to turn off their heat and switch it to cool air. We punched and poked until, magically, the air came on! But we didn't know what we did!

            Not funny!

            Don't tell me we could have checked the "manual" either. That book is totally useless. It has to have been written by someone whose primary language is NOT English. Ambiguity flourishes in that book. The table of contents doesn't even make sense.

            Here are some of the problems we encounter daily.

             Sometimes the vehicle beeps mysteriously when we get out. Sometimes it beeps twice. We have no idea what's going on. Often, I return to the car, restart it, and then turn it off AGAIN. We do know that it is trying to tell us something….

            This vehicle beeps if we do anything, right or wrong. Fred opens a door and the car dings, and the dash says, "Door ajar". Fred yells. I won't tell you what he says!

             We are continually warned not to text and drive. When we text, we take our eyes off the road, right? The trouble is, we cannot operate ANY extra features on this car without taking our eyes off of the road for a LONG time.

            Sometimes we have to pull over.

            The radio? How we long for knobs; volume knobs, on and off knobs, station  and changing knobs. Alas, they are no more. We must scan for a station…and if the signal is not a pre-set station, then heaven forbid, the scan won't easily find another.

            Some of the controls work with the thumbs on the wheel. The cruise control, the up and down speed…pretty cool. I got that.

            The left hand controls are well, let's say, unattainable. While speeding down the highway at 66-70 miles per hour, I might glance at the choices; Display Mode, Trip 1, Trip 2, Fuel Economy, Driver Assist, (Traction Control, Rear parking, Trailer Sway) Setting, (DTE calculation), Easy entry controls, lighting, locks, auto lock)..

            Yikes. And as for the right hand controls?

            So, when possible, we refer to the easy, simple, nothing-to-it, manual.

            The Audio System section which explains how to work just the AM-FM is 16 pages long. I kid you not.

            The SYNC chapter which dovetails into the details on how to use all the bells and whistles is 123 pages long.

             Page 402 shows a highlighted area which says this: Warning. Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control, crash, and injury. We strongly recommend that you use extreme caution when using any device while taking your focus off the road, etc. " No kidding!!

            Fred says, " Oh what I would give for my 56 Packard!"

            No wonder guys flock to the car shows' displays of the older cars. Those were the days, my friends!

           

Advice to the Graduate

             Pom, pom pom pom, pooooom, poooom" (That's "Pomp and Circumstance" )In Kansas, schools and universities are either preparing for graduation or conducting graduation exercises this month. And the public school kids (of all ages) are now chanting, "School's out, school's out, teacher let the fools out!"

            So, in keeping with the tradition of the many speeches, passing on knowledge and wisdom, instruction and warning to our graduating Seniors, I will proceed as well.          

            Here is MY advice to you new graduates.

            1. Whatever you do, continue to pursue some kind of education. Learn a trade. You will have to support yourself at some point. SO, select a profession or trade that society really needs. Don't waste your money or your parents' funds pursuing some useless occupation that doesn't really exist.  Consider studying or doing apprentice work to become a plumber, an electrician, a teacher, a beautician, an engineer, a social worker, a scientist, a nurse, or any medical occupation.

            If you have the opportunity and love of farming, wonderful! Get more training. If you can build houses, learn the finer points. You get the drift. Always improve.

            Making a lot of money is not the answer to happiness. Choose a profession or trade that YOU like and enjoy doing..

            2. Fred's expression is this: "If you are going to walk in the chicken yard, you will get manure on your feet". Choose your friends carefully.  Think before you act. Don't let your friends' choices pull you down; allow your choices to pull them up. College is the "perfect storm" for doing hair brained things. Respect yourself and respect others.

            3. Say Please, Thank you, Excuse me, and Yes Sir. Good manners make a way for you with professors, counselors, family, and friends. Step up a level higher. Say what you mean and mean what you say. You are an adult now.

            4. Remember, you are responsible for you. You can not blame your parents, your friends,or your situations for who you are and where you are headed. You are the final authority, and you can do whatever you set your mind to do. No one can stop you but YOU.

            "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go" (Dr. Seuss).

            5. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time. If you make a mistake and find yourself in a hole, then stop digging!  Everyone makes mistakes. The courage comes in correcting them.

            6. And last, live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.  These are all tips that if followed, will direct every other decision in your life with success and well being.

            What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

            Good luck, and may you be successful in all that you pursue.

On A Pot of Boiling Water

            Do you remember hearing the story of the frog in the pot of boiling water? The frog is placed in the water over the heat. The frog is alive. The heat gradually, ever so gradually, begins to heat, and as the heat increases, the frog adapts to the increasing temperature. He doesn't notice.

            Soon the water is boiling. The frog notices then, but it is too late. The frog is boiling and he dies.

            Boy, that's an encouraging little story, right? Not.

            It seems to be an appropriate story for the condition of our country. We are the frogs in the water. The heat is increasing.

            More riots. More destruction. More devastation of lives.

            But that's not all…as if that weren't enough!

            Drought, pestilence, diseases like measles popping up all over the place, earthquakes, economic instability. There are threats from all types of radical extremist groups as well.  Mix in the Boston Marathon bombing with the threats and presence of radical cell groups throughout the nation, and it appears that we are in "hot water".

            "Oh, these things have always gone on," you might say.

            No. Never like this that I can remember; never with all kinds of things happening at the same time.

            The water has been heating for some time. And dear readers, we are in trouble.

             Let's look in the pot. The pot of water has several kids of frogs in that water.

            One kind of frog is swimming around, having a good time, living in "La la" land, and noticing nothing. He is pumping his legs, and moving his front feet, and ignoring the others. He is looking to just "enjoying" life, swimming in his little area,  doing what he has to do to get by, and totally blind and oblivious to the heat. He doesn't care, and doesn't care to learn more.

            Another frog is not paddling very much. He's just watching. But he definitely is planning his escape out of the pot. Right now he is so concerned with the temperature of the water, that all he can say is that, "I am very uncomfortable about this water, and I think there is going to be trouble soon. But I am going to just stay quiet and hope for the best. I am not going to say ANYTHING to the other two frogs, because they will think I am crazy!" This frog needs to be challenged to action.

            Let's look at the third frog. He is  the bold one. He knows its not going to get better unless he can get the fire turned off. He is praying, and he knows that things are correctible but that he needs more on his side.  He is loud and vociferous, and speaking the truth about the situation. The others just move to the edge of the pot. They do not want to hear it.

            Where are you?

            You see, we are in a crisis right now. Our wonderful America is beginning to suffer for her backsliding and ignorance of the morality, faith, and sacrifice that she once considered the backbone of the nation. She is ignoring and mistreating her friends in the world, and acting arrogantly.

            These frogs in the pot…well, they are examples of different groups of people..and as you can see, the first frog is really not interested. He thinks life will go on just like it has forever, and he is totally not aware of much.

            The third frog is up to date. He sees that there are hard times ahead. The water is getting hotter and he is aware. Totally. But there are not as many of him as there are number one frogs.

            It's the number two frog that needs to be told to wake up.

            Who can tell the frog HOW he can get out of that pot?

            Oh, I forgot to tell you something!

            There's a large spoon holder floating in the pot. It's got a label. There's a place to go, if the frogs choose to notice, to be humble, to repent, and to open their eyes.

            They can find refuge from the water and the heat.

            But will they?

            I think the third frog will climb in. And hopefully he will encourage the others to do the same. I hope so.

             

On "What can I do?"

            How many of you have suffered the sorrow and concern from having learned that a well known member of the community, perhaps a good friend,  or even a family member is very ill.

            Or who of you has been THE main care giver for an aged person, a helpless acquaintance, an ill loved one' or any of a multitude of needy situations?

            We all want to give heartfelt help; to be of some help anyway, but don't have a clue what to do!

            Recently, while visiting with Donna, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and who also is a remarkable survivor up to now, I learned that she meets with other Stage 4 cancer friends regularly. They share with each other their joys, sorrows, hopes, and needs.

            What is remarkable is that D is a remarkable woman, and that she continues to help and reach out to others in many ways. In this case, these "Stage 4" individuals have brainstormed and come up with the "how-to-help if you really want to help us" points. I asked her to write down these pointers so  I could pass them on to you as she and the group come up with more hints.

            Being ill and in pain is debilitating. Often the body can no longer perform the same tasks, no matter how minor, as before. Sometimes the stress from the many demands of the disease is just over the top. There is "nothing" left to do the extra things that life demands.

            Many of you are already very thoughtful, however we all want to be much more aware. Here are some suggestions of what you can do to be helpful.

            A BIG THANK YOU TO D. AND THE GROUP!

            1. Buy bottles of water. They are useful for every situation; traveling, working, at home.

            2. Consider gift cards. Food cards for eating out, (Arby's, Subway, Pizza Hut, Freddy's, etc) Dillon's cards are a big help; so are meat markets. In Larned, B&B is another creative source for food treats.

            3. Bottles of lotion; make sure it is fragrance free.

            4. Snacks for the many trips to treatment.  Cheese and Crackers, Chips, gum, suckers.

            5. Fuzzy socks

            6. Offer transportation. Bring along with you water, snacks, a blanket, a pillow.

            7. Be there on the last day of treatment. Clap for them, have balloons, make signs "You did it!"

            8. Clean their homes. Offer to vacuum, dust, do dishes, mop floors

            9. Give a gift certificate for a trip to the Beauty Shop, or Spa.

            10. Visit him or her if she/he feels up to it.

            11.  Let him/her cry.

            12. Take meals, but first check to make sure they have room for them. Pick up a pizza and deliver it to them.

            13. Pump his/her gas while she relaxes. Wash the windshield.

            14.  Give a crossword book or a puzzle book if they can do those kinds of things. A Jigsaw puzzle would work as well.

            15. Bring paper plates, utensils, cups, napkins for daily use.

            16. Get together with friends and bring in a holiday dinner with all the trimmings.

            Remember this. None of us can do it all. None of us can meet all the needs. But if we join together, we can do a lot. And every bit of encouragement …even the smallest amount…is amplified many times in the mind and soul of the person who is receiving the help.

            And last. Pray for them. Pray. I assure you that the recipients of your prayers do feel the peace and comfort of God as well as His love and assurance.

            There, now. Let's go for it!

On Skills for Survival

            Let me ask you a question? Do you or anyone in your family or household have the skills to survive for a long time with no electricity or grocery store?

            We will take a test in a bit to see how you would score.

            When I was a little girl, it was customary for most families in town to have a garden in some corner of their yard. Some raised chickens, too. Customarily, those who lived in the country always planted gardens and in fact, the family garden supported basic food needs for the "country folks" during hard times.

            It was customary after World War II to plant "Victory Gardens" in family yards. These vegetable gardens alleviated food shortages, because so much of the produce was being sent overseas to feed the troops. Also, with fewer men to work the farms, there was less produce available.

            The custom continued. Gardens grew in most back yards during the 60's and 70's, but I don't remember any chickens. At least, the chicken population was sparse and only a few homes had the time and energy to care for them. Sadly, the family vegetable garden eventually faded out.

            Today, when people think of gardening they visualize a flower garden. Flowers don't necessarily give you much to eat. It is easy to run to the grocery store.

            How dependent we are upon trucks and stores! We have subconsciously relinquished responsibility for our own welfare to a system that can break down at the most minor glitch in the chain.

            What would we need to know in order to survive?  And is it at all feasible to consider that we might at some time need to know how to take care of ourselves? I think it is.

            Every civilization has at one time or another experienced a breakdown, whether it was economically, politically, or socially .Nothing stays the same. Things change.

            How many of these necessary skills could you "call upon" if you needed to use them? (thank you to my source. www.the-open-mind.com)

            1.Gardening .It's not hard. But it takes some preparation to learn how to garden and grow food. Start small and plant veggies you like. Tomatoes? Cucumbers? Onions? A good magazine to read from the library is "Mother Earth News". Motherearthnews.com

            2. Animal husbandry means raising  and caring for animals for food sources;  Maybe raise just chickens at first.

            3. Food Preservation. Canning and drying food is another important skill. Refrigeration and freezing food is totally dependent on a power source. Canned goods and dried foods need none. It is time consuming, but not difficult to do either.  Freezing depends on an electrical supply, so another alternative source is always a good idea.

            4. Blacksmithing . Blacksmiths can make or repair anything out of metal. If we were without electrical power, the skills of a blacksmith would allow people to have their tools repaired — and new ones fashioned. Since the manufacturing plants presumably would be shut down, that ability would be essential for rebuilding America -

            5. Basic Carpentry  . Basic repairs, cutting wood, woodworking skills.

            6. Basic Mechanical Repair . Depending on the type of disaster, the family car may just end up being a large paperweight. But there are diverse scenarios where it would be useful to be able to fix your car, keeping it running for general use. As long as there is gasoline, that car would be useful.  The ability to diagnose and repair an engine is useful not only for keeping a car on the road, but also for fixing lawn mowers, chain saws and other power tools.

            7. Herbal Medicine . The roots of medicine were herbal medicine. Before docs had such a wide range of pharmaceuticals to work with, doctors made their own medicines. Many women learned what nature provided and she learned from her mother.

            8. Horseback Riding . This may not seem like much of a survival skill, since today horseback riding is only done for sport. But if the automobile were no longer useful, people would be looking for horses once again. Today riding a horse is a skill few know and hitching and driving a team would be a further reach. Can you ride a horse?

            So how did you do? You say you got an 8? Wow. For the rest of us, we have our work laid out for us. I got a 6!