Saturday, July 5, 2014

Another Ramble

I chuckled to myself this morning when I checked Facebook to see if Youngest Son had posted any more vacation pictures.  He had.




They are in San Diego.  His comment was "This place is beautiful.  I think my kids would like to call it home!"  Earlier, he said he wasn't thrilled with the $4.19 gas prices.  David and Staci work so hard.  I'm glad to see them relaxing and enjoying themselves with their children.

Last evening was relatively quiet for a 4th of July.  The main fireworks display at Valley Fair is a few miles away, and I could see some of it from my window, but had none of the crowds and traffic.  In fact, the town pretty much emptied out about dusk.

Except next to my building.

I had just curled up on the couch to read for a while, about 10 PM, when a series of small explosions got my attention.  The explosions were followed by laughter.  And more explosions.  And more laughter.  Of course I had to mutter the obligatory "Darned kids!"  Sounded like the noise was coming from the alley between my building and the one next door.  Finally I got up to take a look.

Here in the middle of the alley were two boys about 15 years of age.  They had a bag of fireworks and were setting them off, one by one.  Some had a little bit of sparkly effect and others just went "Boom."  The sound bounced off the walls of the buildings making sort of an echo.  They would set off something from their bag, and then laugh with delight.  Repeat.  Repeat.  They were having so much fun with their little fireworks stash that I couldn't get mad at them.  I watched them for a little while, smiling at their antics.  I figure there are a lot worse things 15 year old boys could be doing on a pleasant summer evening.  After about a half hour their supply ran out and off they went.

I'm going to have to kick the canning into high gear.  I think I have more empty jars than full ones and I am running out of places to stack them.  I need more hamburger and turkey for sure.  And a couple of cases of Amish Coleslaw.  The recipe comes from Jackie Clay, and it is delicious.  I either drain it and mix with mayo for a regular coleslaw, or I use it as a relish.  Love the stuff.  Here's the recipe:

1 - 1/2 cups vinegar
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. celery seed
1/2 tsp. mustard seed
2 tsp. salt
1 large head cabbage
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onions
2 cups shredded carrots

Mix vinegar, sugar, and seasonings. Mix with vegetables. Stir very well. Pack into sterile jars and process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.
Note:  You can shred the cabbage if you like.  I chop it and the other vegetables fairly fine because I like to use this as a relish sometimes.  I have also tossed in a few chopped green peppers and adjusted the ingredients accordingly.

I have goofed off long enough.  On to the fun stuff, like shampooing the carpet.  (Yuck) The cat will disappear for a couple of hours at the sound of the shampooer and the dogs will hide in their kennels, but I expect they will forgive me about suppertime.

8 comments:

  1. Our fourth of July here in the mountains was pretty lame. It's hot, the economy stinks, and people are not in a celebratory mood.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Harry...It has been more quiet than usual here as well. Some towns have cancelled fireworks displays due to lack of funds. Even the sounds of firecrackers and such around me have been fewer than other years. It has been like a grave yard here today, and that is really strange for a Saturday on a 4th of July weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. There were enough fire crackers to keep my furchild panting while his bladder kept enlarging. When he was finally able to run outside, it was a long-lasting flood til I thought I might have to help hold his leg up for him. lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. lotta joy...Aw..poor little guy. I hope that they are all done scaring him. It's pretty quiet here now, though my two Yorkies don't seem to pay any attention to firecrackers - or thunder storms, for that matter. Give them a cookie and they happily sack out in their kennels.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I missed this post. Sometimes blogger will do that to me. I love cole slaw, but the sugar is too much for my blood sugar numbers. Oh well Live to est, eat to live i guess.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My husband was diabetic, and it was sometimes a challenge to find foods that didn't push his numbers into the stratosphere. I always felt bad when he couldn't have something he really liked because of the sugar content. I see by some of your posts that you really work at keeping it under control. Good on you for that. I know it isn't easy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have my readings about half of what is was. But I love ice cream, and cookies, when I eat those they are as high has the space station. LOL. Bread will raise it too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rob...Sounds like you have a handle on what you need to do to stay healthy. I think I could give up the cookies, but I'm not so sure about the ice cream. Love the stuff.

    ReplyDelete