T minus 3 days and counting....

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain

Well, day before yesterday my friend gave me a gallon and one half of blackberries. I was really excited to do some canning. Yesterday, I began the process (remember, I haven't done blackberries since I helped Pearl (my grandmother) way back.

My problem is that I had not ever done this on my own before. I juiced the berries with the old juicer. I then strained the juice to get the remaining seeds out of the juice. I washed my jars. Then I began to cook the jelly. I followed the directions that were written down, but the missing direction was my grandmother.

The juice was cooked, I skimmed the foam, and began to fill the jars. My husband helped (bless his heart but, that may have been part of the problem.) He freely offered his opinion about my errors (remember, he's never done this before) and so I was very nervous. Canning really is an art--you have to get the proportions exactly correct and then you have to know (and I mean just know) when to stop the cooking process. Too little--syrup. Too much--blackberry bricks. After I filled the jars and put on the lids, I gave them a bath. Yes, they all sealed properly. Success!!! Set them to cool.

I remember how Granma's jelly would turn so pretty in the jars. This morning, I turned the jars--syrup. I could have cried. I read on the internet that sometimes it takes two weeks for the jelly to turn. My mom called this morning and I asked her if it took two weeks for Granma's jelly to turn and she said, "Hmmm, I think when the lids popped, the jelly had already turned." Oh, well, I'll wait a couple of weeks but, I'm doubtful; I think I made canned syrup. Next time, I think I'll choose another partner to help...my mom.

There are just some things you have to learn on your own, with prayers, of course...

It's been too long....

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me".
Erma Bombeck
It has been entirely too long since the last time I posted. Albiet, I have been very busy with one project after another.
The longest of the projects was converting one of our buildings into three businesses. The business that I took was, starting from scratch, the beauty salon. I think I worked everyday for about four months.
The second was refurbishing a rental property that was badly abused. It still amazes me what some people leave behind for others to clean--esp. in the bathroom. Now, I think that we have really good tenants. I'm learning that with each lease signing, to be a little more strick.
All the while that I was doing the above two projects, I taught school and we graduated two students last week. I get so emotional when we have graduations. It feels like the graduates are almost like my children because we invest so much of our time and effort as teachers with them.
Then last week, my son and his adorable wife, made the announcement that we were going to have another grandchild (#6). I am so happy but, more than that, I am so happy for her parents. It's their first. I am sure that they are so excited. It is amazing how God always makes room in one's heart to love one more child.
Anyway, next week my sweetie pie will have surgery and will have a long rehab period. I will be very busy this summer. There is still so much to do...

The infamous event...

And the terror itself is an example of the world's uncontrollability.
Ulrich Beck

My fear of some things is completely irrational. Take for instance, would it be rational to be afraid of a mammal that is approximately 1100 times smaller than I? The answer is--no. Would it be rational to say that I'm about 1100 times smarter? Well, of course it would be. Then why in the world am I afraid of such an intruder into my life? The answer is totally irrational. The answer is--because. That's it--just because. These creatures are opportunists. They don't hunt--they steal. That's offensive enough. But, they will bring the whole family too, so that all can enjoy warmth and the food they steal. Oh, did I mention, they don't use the bathroom facilities. If they need to "go" it will be right where they are (how rude). They don't wipe their feet either and they harbor all sorts of diseases.

The rest of the story...
I baked some cookies for my honey. I took them out of the oven. He enjoyed few and then left the rest on the glass cook top. I then became hungry for cornbread. I made a good ole southern cornbread (w/o flour) with cheese and baked in an iron skillet. After it was baked, I immediately enjoyed a slice. It was so good, I went back for seconds. As I was eating, my Sweetie-pie entered the kitchen and said, "Well, I'll be damned--a mouse." I nearly choked and immediately became hysterical. I had to throw away the cookies and the cornbread. There was a MOUSE in my kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The nerve of that animal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was without a clue as to what to do. That type of behavior, for me, is very unusual. I can usually react appropriately to almost any emergency situation. In this situation, I was a complete buffoon. It was a true blonde moment. Ken went to the store and bought those sticky trap things but they didn't work. Can't say as I blame the mouse, I wouldn't eat that crap either.

So, I went about my business the next day with some trepidation. I began to prepare dinner and behind the control panel of the stove, I SAW HIS TAIL!!!!!! My immediate return to hysteria began. My knight in shining armor appeared and decided to set a mouse trap. He loaded it with cheese and in less than a minute the trap worked. Death to the intruder. My Hero slayed him!!!!!!!!!!! The babbling moron (me) began to return to normal. Though, the question still remains. After such moronic behavior, is normal possible for me?

Persistance.......

...if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
How many time have I begun a project and then grown tired of it and quit. I must confess; it is more than I would like to admit. So begins my resolution for the year. I will begin not another project until all of the ones I have begun are finished. Can you believe it? I am still not finished with the bathroom. Oh, cleverly, I have blamed it on the busy-ness of the holiday season but, no more excuses. Clearly, Paul, in the above scripture, is speaking of good works--continuing in them so as to reap a good harvest. But these wise word can be used everyday for the smallest of things. Mohammad Ali, the greatest boxer, wisely said, "The will must be stronger than the skill." Well, that's where I am today. My "New Year's resolution is to use my skills wisely and with persistance. I must bounce back or run the risk of "drying out and becomming brittle." Happy New Year....

Christmas is almost here........

Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

I'm having so much fun for the holidays. I really like to entertain. I like to cook.
This year our famiy has decided to do something diferent. We are only exchanging home-made gifts. What a relief!!!!!!!!!! Bought gifts are such a stressor. We must remember that we are celebrating the Gift of Jesus so as to open the gates of heaven to us. I have been baking incessantly goodies for gifts. I've especially been concentrating on recipies of my grandmothers. They were handed-down for a reason- they are delicious.
I really like to decorate the table. Homemade center piece, hand-made placemats(snowflakes), linen napkin folding, place cards, silver, hostess gifts, etc.
Our menu wil be Shrimp and Okra Gumbo, rice, potato salad, french bread and for dessert, my grandmother's lemon cake (it's to die for). I know we should eat to live, but this is the only acceptable exception.
Our Christmas Eve will be filed celebation of family and thanksgiving for the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

South of I-10

Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, we will stand by each other, however it blow.
Simon Dach
Well, today was something of a holiday here. It snowed last night. I suppose it's been about 15-20 years since it snowed last because we live so far South.
When my husband woke up he said that there was snow outside. I didn't believe him because, he is a jokster of the first order.
However, my fellow teacher made an early morning phone call to me and said, "We're not having school today because of the snow!"
I jumped out of bed to look out of the window and, sure enough, white blanketed the ground and trees. It was beautiful. What a wonderful day to stay indoors and prepare for the holidays.
It was baking day. I baked 12 mini-cakes. They have to cure fore two weeks. Tommorow, I will bake about 100 cookies. This year, we are doing homemade gifts. It really makes it special. You cannot buy the time that is put into a homemade gift.
Great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation."

I know that this is not a direct quote from Our Lord, Jesus Christ but, if you think about it, it's certainly true. Too many of us have forgotten the reason that we celebrate Christmas. Today, it seems as though too many people are caught-up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, waiting in long lines to make purchases that perhaps are really not needed. A worker in a store was killed on the day after Thanksgiving as a mob of shoppers ran over him. He died and no one stopped to help him. This is a tragic situation, to be sure, and the opposite of Christ-like.
My family has all agreed that we will no longer be giving gifts to one another. Materialism is becomming entirely too important to too many people. It is the opposite of the meaning of Christ' life on Earth which was to open the Gates of Heaven to us who he loved so purely and completely.
"The happiest person is not the person with the most but the person who needs the least."
Anonymus