Or none at all. I'll have to see how it goes.
Friday the circus starts with a pre-op checkup. Monday is the cataract surgery on my right eye, followed by two post-op checkups. Two weeks later we do it all over again for my left eye. I'm not looking forward to the actual surgeries nor am I happy about all the running back and forth to doctor's offices. But I am looking forward to the possibility of being able to see clearly for the first time in 60 years.
I am extremely nearsighted. Without my glasses, the largest line on an eye chart is a gray blur. I have always lived with the little nagging fear that I would break my glasses when out somewhere and not be able to see well enough to find my way. I am thankful that this worry will be eliminated.
My children, bless their hearts, are organizing getting me to and from all the appointments. I have a list. My job is to be ready at the right time on the right day. They are taking care of everything else, including holding Mom's hand because although she talks like she is brave, she really isn't.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Quick Canning Update
Yesterday Son came home with nine pounds of bacon ends and pieces. This morning I diced the meat, lightly browned it, packed it into half pint jars and ran it through my pressure canner. Tomorrow I will wash and label the jars and put them on the shelf. I got 17 half pints. I find that both Son and I like these home canned bacon bits. They have so many uses. We eat them mixed with scrambled eggs or in omelets. They are good in a green salad. They add flavor to nearly any type of potato casserole type dish. I may have to do a couple more batches because we use them often.
A little while ago I did a post about canning cheese sauce. This past week I used a jar of it to make a small side dish of mac and cheese and it turned out really good. I like broccoli with cheese sauce and I'm sure there are other uses for it. The cheese sauce maintained the right consistency and flavor through the canning process. I can get #10 cans of it at my local grocery, so I will likely can more in the small jars.
It has been hot and humid here this past week. Early this morning (Friday) one of those fast moving storms rolled through. A lightning strike close enough to bring me completely awake from a sound sleep (takes a lot to accomplish that) knocked our power out for an hour or two. We have had few storms this summer so far, but the ones we have had have been fast and violent. I would like to see a day of just gentle rain that would cool things down a bit. I am really looking forward to fall.
A little while ago I did a post about canning cheese sauce. This past week I used a jar of it to make a small side dish of mac and cheese and it turned out really good. I like broccoli with cheese sauce and I'm sure there are other uses for it. The cheese sauce maintained the right consistency and flavor through the canning process. I can get #10 cans of it at my local grocery, so I will likely can more in the small jars.
It has been hot and humid here this past week. Early this morning (Friday) one of those fast moving storms rolled through. A lightning strike close enough to bring me completely awake from a sound sleep (takes a lot to accomplish that) knocked our power out for an hour or two. We have had few storms this summer so far, but the ones we have had have been fast and violent. I would like to see a day of just gentle rain that would cool things down a bit. I am really looking forward to fall.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Sometimes It Is Overwhelming
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be reading about the sale of body parts from babies in America.
Never did I think that sanctuary would be given to those who are killing our citizens.
Never did I believe that our president would put his own warped agenda ahead of the people he should be protecting by refusing to close our borders and refusing to uphold the laws of our land.
Never did I think that God would be banished from our land in favor of a prophet.
Never did I believe that our president would deal favorably with lunatics who want only the death of America.
And never in a million years did I believe we would just sit here and take it.
Never did I think that sanctuary would be given to those who are killing our citizens.
Never did I believe that our president would put his own warped agenda ahead of the people he should be protecting by refusing to close our borders and refusing to uphold the laws of our land.
Never did I think that God would be banished from our land in favor of a prophet.
Never did I believe that our president would deal favorably with lunatics who want only the death of America.
And never in a million years did I believe we would just sit here and take it.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
I Wondered How Long It Would Take...
before the gun grabbers would come after me. Didn't take as long as I thought it would.
I have been reading about the plan to have the Social Security Administration share information with the government so they know who to allow to own a gun and who to ban from owning a gun. I am not going to take the time to cite references. Google "Social Security gun grab."
Before going any further, let me make one thing crystal clear. There are those who consider Social Security an entitlement. I do not. Every paycheck I received from age 15 on had money for Social Security deducted from it. My generation was told of the benefits of these deductions. We were told that at the end of our working life we would have this money available for our retirement...to keep us from starving in our old age. To help keep us off of the welfare rolls. You might ask why some of us didn't save for retirement. That is a fair question. Many of us were unable to save. Many of us could not afford the education for higher paying jobs. Many of us needed every dime of our take home pay just to survive. We needed it to feed our families. We needed it for the ever increasing cost of living that always seemed to outrun pay raises. We needed it to take care of ourselves and our children without relying on welfare, for my generation considered it shameful to beg for a handout. There just plain was no money left at the end of the month to put into savings. We believed what our government told us about Social Security.
That being said, I now find that Social Security has the potential to be used against me. This, really, is nothing new. Every now and then some politicians use the threat of cutting Social Security in order to get what they want in Congress. I have heard presidential speeches, particularly the last six years or so, in which statements are made to the effect that it would be a shame to have to make cuts to Senior Citizen's Social Security checks, but unless our resident tyrant gets his way, that may very well happen. I doubt that Congress would allow that to happen, but this president is sneaky. He has that phone and that pen and he isn't afraid to use them.
So now instead of threatening the Gray Hair Brigade, he is trying to use Social Security to disarm us. The plan is for the Social Security Administration to report which of us need help with our finances. There is a laundry list of other things the government wants to know, but this particular criteria is the one that could affect me.
I have, as have many like me, added one of my children to my bank account. There are two reasons for this. The first is to insure that even if I am ill or housebound as I was over the past winter and spring, there is a trusted family member who can physically go to the bank for me should the need arise, and take care of whatever business needs to be transacted. The second is that I am on the downward slope of life. When I die I want my children to have access to whatever is in my bank account to divide between them and to pay any outstanding bills.
So now I find that this act of convenience for me and my children has the probability of being used as proof that I am incapable of managing my own finances. That I need help to do so, when nothing could be further from the truth. I keep track of my own money. I balance my own checkbook. I spend or save my money as I please. And now this decision of convenience can be used to make sure that I am left with no way to defend myself or my property.
I fully understand that putting a loaded gun in the hands of an elderly person with dementia is not a good thing. And I understand that there are other circumstances where gun ownership by Seniors would pose a danger not only to others, but to themselves as well. But for those of us who are still fully functioning citizens of a certain age, the notion that we should be deprived of our Second Amendment rights is ludicrous.
Our government officials seem to have forgotten one thing though. And I call upon all geezers who are still upright, taking nourishment and still have their senses about them to remember, as my Daddy used to say:
"There's more than one way to skin a cat."
I have been reading about the plan to have the Social Security Administration share information with the government so they know who to allow to own a gun and who to ban from owning a gun. I am not going to take the time to cite references. Google "Social Security gun grab."
Before going any further, let me make one thing crystal clear. There are those who consider Social Security an entitlement. I do not. Every paycheck I received from age 15 on had money for Social Security deducted from it. My generation was told of the benefits of these deductions. We were told that at the end of our working life we would have this money available for our retirement...to keep us from starving in our old age. To help keep us off of the welfare rolls. You might ask why some of us didn't save for retirement. That is a fair question. Many of us were unable to save. Many of us could not afford the education for higher paying jobs. Many of us needed every dime of our take home pay just to survive. We needed it to feed our families. We needed it for the ever increasing cost of living that always seemed to outrun pay raises. We needed it to take care of ourselves and our children without relying on welfare, for my generation considered it shameful to beg for a handout. There just plain was no money left at the end of the month to put into savings. We believed what our government told us about Social Security.
That being said, I now find that Social Security has the potential to be used against me. This, really, is nothing new. Every now and then some politicians use the threat of cutting Social Security in order to get what they want in Congress. I have heard presidential speeches, particularly the last six years or so, in which statements are made to the effect that it would be a shame to have to make cuts to Senior Citizen's Social Security checks, but unless our resident tyrant gets his way, that may very well happen. I doubt that Congress would allow that to happen, but this president is sneaky. He has that phone and that pen and he isn't afraid to use them.
So now instead of threatening the Gray Hair Brigade, he is trying to use Social Security to disarm us. The plan is for the Social Security Administration to report which of us need help with our finances. There is a laundry list of other things the government wants to know, but this particular criteria is the one that could affect me.
I have, as have many like me, added one of my children to my bank account. There are two reasons for this. The first is to insure that even if I am ill or housebound as I was over the past winter and spring, there is a trusted family member who can physically go to the bank for me should the need arise, and take care of whatever business needs to be transacted. The second is that I am on the downward slope of life. When I die I want my children to have access to whatever is in my bank account to divide between them and to pay any outstanding bills.
So now I find that this act of convenience for me and my children has the probability of being used as proof that I am incapable of managing my own finances. That I need help to do so, when nothing could be further from the truth. I keep track of my own money. I balance my own checkbook. I spend or save my money as I please. And now this decision of convenience can be used to make sure that I am left with no way to defend myself or my property.
I fully understand that putting a loaded gun in the hands of an elderly person with dementia is not a good thing. And I understand that there are other circumstances where gun ownership by Seniors would pose a danger not only to others, but to themselves as well. But for those of us who are still fully functioning citizens of a certain age, the notion that we should be deprived of our Second Amendment rights is ludicrous.
Our government officials seem to have forgotten one thing though. And I call upon all geezers who are still upright, taking nourishment and still have their senses about them to remember, as my Daddy used to say:
"There's more than one way to skin a cat."
Monday, July 20, 2015
Yesterday
I was pottering about in the kitchen this evening when Son joins me and says, "You aren't gonna believe this."
He had been listening to the police scanner for a county north of us. Some fool of a woman had called the police. The reason? Two kids were playing outside. She could hear their voices. One of the kids said, "Don't push me." The other said, "Ouch."
That was it. Don't push me and ouch. Really? That warranted a call to the police? Amazing. I remember times when, if I hadn't known better, I would have sworn that my kids were all murdering one another. Of course, there were the threats of mayhem if they didn't Stop. That. Fighting. Right. Now.
That got Son and I to talking about things that happened when he and his siblings were kids. Like the time when he was about 12 years old and was trail riding his mini motorcycle with his Dad, who was on a full size dirt bike. The front tire blew. Son went off into the brush. Got banged up a bit.
Then: He climbed out of the brush, dusted himself off and wheeled his bike back to the cabin. Washed off the scratches, applied a couple of bandaids and went back out to play.
Now: If there were witnesses to the accident, the police and Social Services would be called. Along with an ambulance. Charges for child endangerment would be filed. In the coming months lawyers, judges and a lot of money would be involved. Son would be hospitalized for observation. And both bikes would likely be hauled off to the impound lot, never to be seen again.
And there are those who wonder why we long for yesterday.
He had been listening to the police scanner for a county north of us. Some fool of a woman had called the police. The reason? Two kids were playing outside. She could hear their voices. One of the kids said, "Don't push me." The other said, "Ouch."
That was it. Don't push me and ouch. Really? That warranted a call to the police? Amazing. I remember times when, if I hadn't known better, I would have sworn that my kids were all murdering one another. Of course, there were the threats of mayhem if they didn't Stop. That. Fighting. Right. Now.
That got Son and I to talking about things that happened when he and his siblings were kids. Like the time when he was about 12 years old and was trail riding his mini motorcycle with his Dad, who was on a full size dirt bike. The front tire blew. Son went off into the brush. Got banged up a bit.
Then: He climbed out of the brush, dusted himself off and wheeled his bike back to the cabin. Washed off the scratches, applied a couple of bandaids and went back out to play.
Now: If there were witnesses to the accident, the police and Social Services would be called. Along with an ambulance. Charges for child endangerment would be filed. In the coming months lawyers, judges and a lot of money would be involved. Son would be hospitalized for observation. And both bikes would likely be hauled off to the impound lot, never to be seen again.
And there are those who wonder why we long for yesterday.
Friday, July 17, 2015
White Coats and Appointments
So I had an appointment a week or so ago with my family physician. They make you come in every three months. They don't like to refill prescriptions unless you do. So I did.
My children take me to these appointments. They do so because I don't own a car. And because they don't trust me to follow doctor's orders. They know about the dislike I have for doctor visits. Comes from my parents, I think. Mother was ill nearly all of her life and spent countless hours and days in doctor's offices and hospitals. Dad developed an attitude of thinking doctors were gods. After Mother's death and in his later years, he became obsessed with seeing a doctor for every little ache and pain. A perfect example was this:
Got a call from my brother who lived near Dad at the time. Dad was living in the small nursing home in his home town, where he was well cared for. His physical condition was such that he could no longer live at home, but his mental capacities were as sharp as ever. Anyway, brother called to tell me that Dad was on his way to the hospital. Seems he was having some pain in his shoulder and because of his history of heart problems, he had convinced the nursing home staff that he was probably having a heart attack. I told brother to let me know what was happening and that I could be there in a few hours if needed. The call came a couple of hours later. I asked brother what was wrong with Dad. He said the doctors told him that he had a sore shoulder and sent him home. But Dad was happy. He got to ride in an ambulance the 25 miles to the hospital. He got to see a couple of doctors. And he got to flirt a bit with the nurses. All at 90 + years of age! I really miss that sneaky old man.
Anyway, I kept my appointment. Which resulted in two more appointments - one with a podiatrist yesterday (foot care is apparently important to diabetics) and one this morning with an eye specialist (it seems that diabetics also can have major eye problems). Daughter set up both appointments, knowing that I probably wouldn't.
Youngest Son took me to the podiatrist appointment yesterday. My feet are ugly, but healthy. But now I am told I need special shoes designed for diabetics. So Youngest Son took me directly to the office of the shoe people and proceeded to make an appointment to be measured for shoes. He was taking no chances on my backing out of that. Couldn't do anything about it. His truck - he kept the keys - had to go along with it. I was too far away to walk home.
So this morning I am thinking I will see the eye doctor, get a new prescription for glasses and that would be the end of it. Been doing this since I first wore glasses at 8 years of age. No problem. Wouldn't have to see anyone wearing a white coat for a while. Silly me.
Cataract surgery on my left eye is scheduled for August third, followed by surgery on the right eye two weeks later.
I suppose most of this is my own fault. I haven't kept up with these things like I should have. But I had the feeling that my life was out of control. The one thing I really dislike - the doctor's visits and all - was happening and I didn't like it. Until my daughter broke through my anger and told me I did have a choice. I could have the surgery and be able to see without glasses for the first time in over 60 years, with the exception of over the counter reading glasses for close work, or I could choose not to have the surgery and be able to see less and less clearly. She was right. I stuffed my anger and stubbornness into my back pocket and made the appointments.
But when this is all done with, I don't want to see a white coat wearing medical person for a long time. :)
My children take me to these appointments. They do so because I don't own a car. And because they don't trust me to follow doctor's orders. They know about the dislike I have for doctor visits. Comes from my parents, I think. Mother was ill nearly all of her life and spent countless hours and days in doctor's offices and hospitals. Dad developed an attitude of thinking doctors were gods. After Mother's death and in his later years, he became obsessed with seeing a doctor for every little ache and pain. A perfect example was this:
Got a call from my brother who lived near Dad at the time. Dad was living in the small nursing home in his home town, where he was well cared for. His physical condition was such that he could no longer live at home, but his mental capacities were as sharp as ever. Anyway, brother called to tell me that Dad was on his way to the hospital. Seems he was having some pain in his shoulder and because of his history of heart problems, he had convinced the nursing home staff that he was probably having a heart attack. I told brother to let me know what was happening and that I could be there in a few hours if needed. The call came a couple of hours later. I asked brother what was wrong with Dad. He said the doctors told him that he had a sore shoulder and sent him home. But Dad was happy. He got to ride in an ambulance the 25 miles to the hospital. He got to see a couple of doctors. And he got to flirt a bit with the nurses. All at 90 + years of age! I really miss that sneaky old man.
Anyway, I kept my appointment. Which resulted in two more appointments - one with a podiatrist yesterday (foot care is apparently important to diabetics) and one this morning with an eye specialist (it seems that diabetics also can have major eye problems). Daughter set up both appointments, knowing that I probably wouldn't.
Youngest Son took me to the podiatrist appointment yesterday. My feet are ugly, but healthy. But now I am told I need special shoes designed for diabetics. So Youngest Son took me directly to the office of the shoe people and proceeded to make an appointment to be measured for shoes. He was taking no chances on my backing out of that. Couldn't do anything about it. His truck - he kept the keys - had to go along with it. I was too far away to walk home.
So this morning I am thinking I will see the eye doctor, get a new prescription for glasses and that would be the end of it. Been doing this since I first wore glasses at 8 years of age. No problem. Wouldn't have to see anyone wearing a white coat for a while. Silly me.
Cataract surgery on my left eye is scheduled for August third, followed by surgery on the right eye two weeks later.
I suppose most of this is my own fault. I haven't kept up with these things like I should have. But I had the feeling that my life was out of control. The one thing I really dislike - the doctor's visits and all - was happening and I didn't like it. Until my daughter broke through my anger and told me I did have a choice. I could have the surgery and be able to see without glasses for the first time in over 60 years, with the exception of over the counter reading glasses for close work, or I could choose not to have the surgery and be able to see less and less clearly. She was right. I stuffed my anger and stubbornness into my back pocket and made the appointments.
But when this is all done with, I don't want to see a white coat wearing medical person for a long time. :)
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Canning Cheese Sauce
A couple of days ago Son came home with one of those packages containing two large bags of cheese sauce. What he thought he had was the flavored cheese for nachos. What he got was plain cheddar cheese sauce, which he discovered with the first bite. We can't eat up one of those bags full, so I decided to can them. It is something I have been wanting to try and this was a good opportunity.
So early this morning I dumped the cheese into a kettle and heated it until it was hot all the way through. Then I ladled it into half pint jars, wiped the rims with a vinegar soaked paper towel to remove any residue and oils and added the lids and rings. It was processed for 60 minutes in a water bath canner. All 12 jars sealed. One day next week I will make some mac and cheese for lunch to test how it turned out. If I like it, I may can more.
As long as the kitchen was already warm, I decided I might just as well keep going, rather than heat it up a second day. I had 10 bags of frozen peas and 9 bags of frozen corn languishing in my freezer, taking up space. I spread the corn on dehydrator trays and set them to drying. Corn is a vegetable that will rehydrate right back to where you can't tell it was ever dried. And ground, it makes wonderful cornbread.
I dumped the peas into a stock pot, covered them with water and set them to heating on the stove. I didn't want to cook them - just thaw them out and heat them through. That done I ladled them into half pint jars, covering them with the water I heated them in and got 24 of them going in the pressure canner. I have another 18 half pints to go in the next load.
Most of the companies that process frozen vegetables have not raised their sale prices. I got these for $1 a bag. What they have done is put 14.5 oz. in each bag rather than the 16 oz. each bag contained previously. Sneaky buggers.
So why bother to can frozen vegetables, you ask? I'll tell you. At present there are only two people in this household. After a time there will be only one. A half pint of any vegetable is enough for a meal, even with two people. Vegetables keep longer canned in jars. If water is at a premium, there is enough liquid in each jar to use when heating for a meal. I have a small chest freezer. I have no room for a larger or a second freezer and I would rather use the freezer space for meat or things other than vegetables.
And yes, I know all about the scary GMO foods. But I have no way to grow my own, much as I would prefer to obtain vegetables that way. So I do the best I can within my budget. And if a person is really, really hungry, I sort of doubt whether they would turn down peas or corn that wasn't grown organically from heritage seeds. In times of famine, people have eaten worse.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I had better keep at it and get as much done in as short a time possible. There is a feeling in the air similar to waiting for the other shoe to drop. The world around us seems to have lost its collective mind and I want to make sure I am as ready as I can be for whatever is waiting for us just over the next hill. Whatever it is, it ain't gonna be good.
So early this morning I dumped the cheese into a kettle and heated it until it was hot all the way through. Then I ladled it into half pint jars, wiped the rims with a vinegar soaked paper towel to remove any residue and oils and added the lids and rings. It was processed for 60 minutes in a water bath canner. All 12 jars sealed. One day next week I will make some mac and cheese for lunch to test how it turned out. If I like it, I may can more.
As long as the kitchen was already warm, I decided I might just as well keep going, rather than heat it up a second day. I had 10 bags of frozen peas and 9 bags of frozen corn languishing in my freezer, taking up space. I spread the corn on dehydrator trays and set them to drying. Corn is a vegetable that will rehydrate right back to where you can't tell it was ever dried. And ground, it makes wonderful cornbread.
I dumped the peas into a stock pot, covered them with water and set them to heating on the stove. I didn't want to cook them - just thaw them out and heat them through. That done I ladled them into half pint jars, covering them with the water I heated them in and got 24 of them going in the pressure canner. I have another 18 half pints to go in the next load.
Most of the companies that process frozen vegetables have not raised their sale prices. I got these for $1 a bag. What they have done is put 14.5 oz. in each bag rather than the 16 oz. each bag contained previously. Sneaky buggers.
So why bother to can frozen vegetables, you ask? I'll tell you. At present there are only two people in this household. After a time there will be only one. A half pint of any vegetable is enough for a meal, even with two people. Vegetables keep longer canned in jars. If water is at a premium, there is enough liquid in each jar to use when heating for a meal. I have a small chest freezer. I have no room for a larger or a second freezer and I would rather use the freezer space for meat or things other than vegetables.
And yes, I know all about the scary GMO foods. But I have no way to grow my own, much as I would prefer to obtain vegetables that way. So I do the best I can within my budget. And if a person is really, really hungry, I sort of doubt whether they would turn down peas or corn that wasn't grown organically from heritage seeds. In times of famine, people have eaten worse.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I had better keep at it and get as much done in as short a time possible. There is a feeling in the air similar to waiting for the other shoe to drop. The world around us seems to have lost its collective mind and I want to make sure I am as ready as I can be for whatever is waiting for us just over the next hill. Whatever it is, it ain't gonna be good.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Poking My Head Out...
giving a wave and saying "Hi." I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth. Just a slow week.
Saturday Son went back to the Farmer's Market, looking for raspberries or blueberries. He said what he found was way over priced. So he brought me five nice bundles of fresh parsley. I snipped the leaves from the stems and dehydrated them, giving me three pint jars of dried parsley. The apartment smelled really good while they were drying. If the herb vendor still has some the next time Son goes to the Market, I think I'll have him get more. I use parsley a lot in cooking. And home dehydrated is so much more flavorful than store bought.
Son also visited our favorite honey vendor and brought back a two-quart jar of honey to add to the food storage.. The same vendor sells pure maple syrup, so he brought home two quarts of that lovely liquid.
The weather here has turned hot and humid, although not as bad as for those living in the south. But we here in the north are summer weather wimps, so 90 degrees is miserable for us. Son went out for a while today and said it was like walking into a sauna. There are storm warnings out this evening, but so far they seem to be mostly to the north of us. We are listening to the scanner for the area where the storms are going through. They have called out their weather spotters and so far the predicted tornadoes and hail have not materialized. Hope it stays that way.
Me...I'm just hanging out in the cool of the air conditioning, coward that I am. I've got a couple of quilt tops in the works and am doing some more digital scrapbooking on my computer, working on albums for my own pleasure. Storms are predicted for the coming week and there is nothing I need to go out for, so here I stay. Seems like the sensible thing to do. Old folks tend to drop like flies in the heat and I don't plan to be among them.
Saturday Son went back to the Farmer's Market, looking for raspberries or blueberries. He said what he found was way over priced. So he brought me five nice bundles of fresh parsley. I snipped the leaves from the stems and dehydrated them, giving me three pint jars of dried parsley. The apartment smelled really good while they were drying. If the herb vendor still has some the next time Son goes to the Market, I think I'll have him get more. I use parsley a lot in cooking. And home dehydrated is so much more flavorful than store bought.
Son also visited our favorite honey vendor and brought back a two-quart jar of honey to add to the food storage.. The same vendor sells pure maple syrup, so he brought home two quarts of that lovely liquid.
The weather here has turned hot and humid, although not as bad as for those living in the south. But we here in the north are summer weather wimps, so 90 degrees is miserable for us. Son went out for a while today and said it was like walking into a sauna. There are storm warnings out this evening, but so far they seem to be mostly to the north of us. We are listening to the scanner for the area where the storms are going through. They have called out their weather spotters and so far the predicted tornadoes and hail have not materialized. Hope it stays that way.
Me...I'm just hanging out in the cool of the air conditioning, coward that I am. I've got a couple of quilt tops in the works and am doing some more digital scrapbooking on my computer, working on albums for my own pleasure. Storms are predicted for the coming week and there is nothing I need to go out for, so here I stay. Seems like the sensible thing to do. Old folks tend to drop like flies in the heat and I don't plan to be among them.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Whew! Done With the Strawberries
This is kind of a record for myself so I will remember how much I can get out of the strawberries and rhubarb I buy. Have to write it down. Can't trust my memory. Funny, I can remember what happened years ago, but not what I had for dinner last night. The joys of aging.
I started out with six gallons of strawberries and a gallon and a half of cut up rhubarb from four bundles bought at the Farmers Market.
I used the strawberry jam recipe from the Sure Jell box.
8 cups strawberries
7 cups sugar
1 package Sure Jell
Mix the berries and Sure Jell and bring to a rolling boil. Add the sugar and bring again to boil. Boil 1 minute. Ladle into jars. Wipe jar rims and top with lids and rings. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
I wound up with 28 half pint jars of jam from four batches plus about 2/3 of a pint that went into the fridge.
Next was the strawberry-rhubarb jam.
4 cups strawberries
2 cups rhubarb
5 cups sugar
splash of lemon juice
1 box Sure Jell
The process is the same as the strawberry jam. Two batches yielded 14 half pints.
On to the strawberry-rhubarb sauce. The following is the doubled recipe.
10 cups rhubarb
5 cups strawberries
10 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
I cooked the mixture on a medium low heat until the rhubarb was soft and the sugar was completely dissolved, stirring often to prevent scorching, and then brought it to a rolling boil before taking it off the heat. Both pints and half pints are processed in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Two batches of the above recipe gave me 8 pints and 16 half pints. There was maybe a 3/4 of a cup left over after filling the jars and Son ate that over vanilla ice cream. Said it was delicious.
By that time I was wearing down. Can't seem to work as long or as hard as I once did. It's that age thing, I suppose. At any rate, I still had berries left, so I bagged them up and into the freezer went nine quarts. I think between Son and I, we probably ate close to another quart fresh and in strawberry shakes. So now I know what I can get out of six gallons of strawberries. This coming winter when the temperatures are falling and the snow is blowing, a little bit of summer in a jar is going to taste really good.
I started out with six gallons of strawberries and a gallon and a half of cut up rhubarb from four bundles bought at the Farmers Market.
I used the strawberry jam recipe from the Sure Jell box.
8 cups strawberries
7 cups sugar
1 package Sure Jell
Mix the berries and Sure Jell and bring to a rolling boil. Add the sugar and bring again to boil. Boil 1 minute. Ladle into jars. Wipe jar rims and top with lids and rings. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
I wound up with 28 half pint jars of jam from four batches plus about 2/3 of a pint that went into the fridge.
Next was the strawberry-rhubarb jam.
4 cups strawberries
2 cups rhubarb
5 cups sugar
splash of lemon juice
1 box Sure Jell
The process is the same as the strawberry jam. Two batches yielded 14 half pints.
On to the strawberry-rhubarb sauce. The following is the doubled recipe.
10 cups rhubarb
5 cups strawberries
10 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
I cooked the mixture on a medium low heat until the rhubarb was soft and the sugar was completely dissolved, stirring often to prevent scorching, and then brought it to a rolling boil before taking it off the heat. Both pints and half pints are processed in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Two batches of the above recipe gave me 8 pints and 16 half pints. There was maybe a 3/4 of a cup left over after filling the jars and Son ate that over vanilla ice cream. Said it was delicious.
By that time I was wearing down. Can't seem to work as long or as hard as I once did. It's that age thing, I suppose. At any rate, I still had berries left, so I bagged them up and into the freezer went nine quarts. I think between Son and I, we probably ate close to another quart fresh and in strawberry shakes. So now I know what I can get out of six gallons of strawberries. This coming winter when the temperatures are falling and the snow is blowing, a little bit of summer in a jar is going to taste really good.
Up To My Elbows In Strawberries
So early yesterday morning Number 1 Son made a run to the St. Paul Farmers Market. We talked about going to one of the markets closer to home, but we have had such good luck with produce and prices at the Market in St. Paul that he decided to stick with that one. He wasn't disappointed.
The quest was for strawberries. He bought three flats that all together contained six gallons of berries. The price was about what I would have paid at the grocery, but the quality was excellent. Many times the store berries are large and pretty, but don't have much taste. The Market berries were smaller but absolutely bursting with flavor. Plus they were grown without the use of chemicals.
Took us until the middle of the afternoon to clean the strawberries, after which I made two batches of strawberry jam. That gave me 16 half pint jars of jam with a bit left over that I will run through later this morning when I make one more batch.
Son also found a vendor who was selling rhubarb, so he bought four bundles. I cleaned them and cut them into about half-inch pieces, so when I am finished with the strawberry jam, the plan is to make a couple batches of strawberry-rhubarb jam. The rest of the rhubarb will be combined with berries for a strawberry-rhubarb sauce that makes a great dessert sauce or is wonderful over ice cream or cake.
Son took a friend with him to the Market. She bought two large bundles of cilantro and I am dehydrating it for her. She does her own canning but doesn't have a dehydrator, and I am happy to help out. While son and I were cleaning the berries he asked me if I would use herbs like the cilantro. He said there were herb vendors there with really nice bundles of herbs for cheap. I told him that it seemed like so many think if they store rice and beans, that's enough. But if that's what you are living on, it would get pretty boring in a hurry without herbs and spices to cook with. So when he goes to the Market next weekend, he will see if he can get me a variety of fresh herbs to dry.
The vendor that we have bought honey from in the past is there again this year, so Son brought home two quarts of honey. It is so good - nothing like the store bought stuff that is mostly honey flavored corn syrup. This is the real deal. I was getting low on honey, and because it will keep forever, I want to stock up on it. I think we will get a quart or two each time Son goes to the market, and by the end of summer I should have a nice stash of the stuff.
It is going on 1 AM, July 5th. Sounds like the local celebrants have run out of fireworks to set off in the middle of the street outside my windows. I can't get too upset. It is only once a year and they are having fun! But it is time to sleep for a while and then get an early start on the jam marathon while my kitchen is still cool.
And if you put some vanilla ice cream, a bit of milk and a handful of fresh strawberries into a blender, whirl the mixture around for a bit, you get the best tasting strawberry shake ever. I might have to save out enough berries to do that again. :)
The quest was for strawberries. He bought three flats that all together contained six gallons of berries. The price was about what I would have paid at the grocery, but the quality was excellent. Many times the store berries are large and pretty, but don't have much taste. The Market berries were smaller but absolutely bursting with flavor. Plus they were grown without the use of chemicals.
Took us until the middle of the afternoon to clean the strawberries, after which I made two batches of strawberry jam. That gave me 16 half pint jars of jam with a bit left over that I will run through later this morning when I make one more batch.
Son also found a vendor who was selling rhubarb, so he bought four bundles. I cleaned them and cut them into about half-inch pieces, so when I am finished with the strawberry jam, the plan is to make a couple batches of strawberry-rhubarb jam. The rest of the rhubarb will be combined with berries for a strawberry-rhubarb sauce that makes a great dessert sauce or is wonderful over ice cream or cake.
Son took a friend with him to the Market. She bought two large bundles of cilantro and I am dehydrating it for her. She does her own canning but doesn't have a dehydrator, and I am happy to help out. While son and I were cleaning the berries he asked me if I would use herbs like the cilantro. He said there were herb vendors there with really nice bundles of herbs for cheap. I told him that it seemed like so many think if they store rice and beans, that's enough. But if that's what you are living on, it would get pretty boring in a hurry without herbs and spices to cook with. So when he goes to the Market next weekend, he will see if he can get me a variety of fresh herbs to dry.
The vendor that we have bought honey from in the past is there again this year, so Son brought home two quarts of honey. It is so good - nothing like the store bought stuff that is mostly honey flavored corn syrup. This is the real deal. I was getting low on honey, and because it will keep forever, I want to stock up on it. I think we will get a quart or two each time Son goes to the market, and by the end of summer I should have a nice stash of the stuff.
It is going on 1 AM, July 5th. Sounds like the local celebrants have run out of fireworks to set off in the middle of the street outside my windows. I can't get too upset. It is only once a year and they are having fun! But it is time to sleep for a while and then get an early start on the jam marathon while my kitchen is still cool.
And if you put some vanilla ice cream, a bit of milk and a handful of fresh strawberries into a blender, whirl the mixture around for a bit, you get the best tasting strawberry shake ever. I might have to save out enough berries to do that again. :)
Saturday, July 4, 2015
This Is What It Is All About
The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
(Signed by 56 patriots.)
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
(Signed by 56 patriots.)
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Expressing an Opinion Can Get You Pulled Over
Son and I are spending a quiet late afternoon in the living room. He is reading and has his laptop tuned to the police scanner website, playing in the background. It is tuned to a suburb north of Minneapolis that has, for reasons unknown to me, some interesting calls. That county seems to have an overabundance of dumb people doing dumb things. Like the guy doing wheelies on his motorcycle in the middle of rush hour traffic.
Anyway, a call comes in where the police are looking for a vehicle. The reason they are looking for this vehicle is that the driver said something insulting to the person who called the police. The crime committed here was "verbal assault."
So I asked Son if that means that when somebody does something stupid I can no longer yell "Moron" at them. Son said that was pretty much right. And I asked if that meant that I could no longer flip somebody off if they did something equally stupid. Son allowed that this might not be the best response now days. Was more than likely against some law or other.
Sheesh! This politically correct garbage sure spoils a lot of fun.
Anyway, a call comes in where the police are looking for a vehicle. The reason they are looking for this vehicle is that the driver said something insulting to the person who called the police. The crime committed here was "verbal assault."
So I asked Son if that means that when somebody does something stupid I can no longer yell "Moron" at them. Son said that was pretty much right. And I asked if that meant that I could no longer flip somebody off if they did something equally stupid. Son allowed that this might not be the best response now days. Was more than likely against some law or other.
Sheesh! This politically correct garbage sure spoils a lot of fun.
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