Friday Fill-Ins

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Friday Fill-Ins

1. I wish I were on a cruise.

2. This cold snap with no snow on the ground is wrong...that’s what I’m thinking.

3. Please bring snow before Christmas.

4. Life is so amazing.

5. One of my fondest hopes is to see my family and friends happy in their lives.

6. Hubby helped me with the Christmas letter and I just wanted to say thank you.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to. a fire in the hearth, tomorrow my plans include more work in the office and Sunday, I want to read the Sunday paper and drink copious amounts of coffee!

Freedom

I spent the morning on Monday demonstrating in front of our State House. You see a man I know and think very highly of, is now in prison!

Why?

Well, the simple answer is that an overzealous District Attorney put him there, but the real reason is that he was home recovering from surgery and a woman trespassed on his property. When he asked her to leave, she became belligerent. Since he was startled he had his gun in his hand. In New Hampshire we have a right to bear arms. Especially in the middle of the woods, like where Ward’s home is!

The District Attorney said it was Criminal Threatening. She won her case after 4 long years and now he is in Prison.

You can follow this link and read a very accurate account on Ron Paul’s web site.

Here are some pictures from our event! I have put an arrow pointing to me, so you can see me protesting and freezing all at the same time!

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Interestingly, they were putting up the state Christmas tree today! That was one big tree!

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There were well over 100 people there from all across the  state. It warmed my heart to see these people taking time out from their day to demonstrate for Ward’s release.

I protested because I do not believe that defending your house, property, family or self, is a crime. Please pray for my friend. He is a kind, good and gentle man, and would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it. His wife and 4 children are great people and they are only hanging on because, like all of us, they believe in his innocence.

You see, if the government takes away our right to protect and defend our homes and families, then they might as well chuck out our Constitution!

God speed, Ward, we will keep working to bring you home to your family!

It Cold!

Although we do not have snow on the ground yet, tonight it really feels frosty and cold! During my trips to the great out of doors to walk the dogs, I have literally frozen my fanny off!

Anneliese likes to play a game where we go out and she sniffs around, but accomplishes nothing. A half an hour later, she demands to go out for a walk, and again, nothing!

It’s never really bothered me to go out after dark with the dogs until this year, when the bear and coyote went through the yard. Now I am so paranoid that I will run into them, that I get extremely stressed!

I’m hoping that they will all move on and I will stop finding their poopy calling cards on my lawn.

Until that time, I will continue to sing Christmas Carols, and children’s songs to scare off the preditors!

Machines

Friday found two important things happening here. First, the washing machine was fixed. However, when I got the bill, I just about passed out. We’d been quoted one price and the final bill was considerably higher! For what he charged us to repair the machine, we could “easily” have gone out and purchased a new one. I was not at all happy, but bit my lip and told myself that I won’t call this man again, nor will I repair the machine if anything else goes wrong!

After we’d been taken advantage of with the washer, I really didn’t feel like spending any more money. I was kind of just stewing about the outlay of funds, when Hubby started talking about my sewing machine. I told him I found that actually these were quite reasonably priced, and that it was time to send my 30 year old Singer to the recycling center.

Hubby decided to drag me out to buy a new machine. We had done a little looking on line, and got an idea of what was out there, and what had done well with Consumer Reports. In fact it was a best buy and considered a reliable machine.

brothers sewing machine

Now I was nervous when we got her home and I set her up on the table. First I wound the bobbin, and put it into the bobbin slot. Then I walked away. Why did I do that? Frankly, sewing machines freak me out and I needed the time to calm myself.

After an hour, I went over and sat down and threaded the machine. Now here is the totally cool part…the machine is self threading!!! This is so great for someone like me whose vision is quite limited. After I did this, I turned the machine off for the night and went to calm my nerves once again.

Sunday morning, after Hubby and Fritz went out to hike, I sat down at the table and sewed. I made two dogs toys, and then took an old linen dish towel and made rows of practice stitches. You see, this machine comes with 50 pre-programmed stitches! Wow!

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I’m excited about the machine and even see myself attempting something wild like a curtain or two! What a joy. I always believed I couldn’t sew, now I realize it was the blasted machine!

Oh I am a happy girl!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins

It’s Halloween Weekend! Yay!

So…here we go!

1. While the cat’s away the dackels play! LOL!!!.

2. Pasta and vino, fabuloso!

3. Children are such glorious wonders!.

4. Relaxing and catching up with the dogs is what I do, when I get home from work or shopping or what have you.

5. This may seem odd, but it takes very little to make me happy!

6. Getting along, and loving one another is a good thing, and that seems like a fine idea to me!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to doing my laundry! I know that sounds funny, but my machine has been broken for a week and I REALLY need to do laundry!, tomorrow my plans include roasting a roast beef and Sunday, I want to take part of my day to just read!

Friday Fill-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

Random Dozen

1. From “Men Are Dumb ….”: If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be?

The Theme from Friends. “I’ll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I’ll be there for you, like I’ve been there before.
I’ll be there for you, cause you’re there for me too.”

2. From Pam of “Alert And Oriented x 4”: Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of the object of your most painful shoe-buyer’s remorse?

Love my Merrell Slip ons, and detest high heels!

3. From Susanne of “Living to Tell the Story”: Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you’ve personally experienced.

When my sister gave me my one and only surprise birthday party. All my family was there, except Hubby who stayed home with the dogs. It was the last time my Dad and Uncle and close family got together.

4. From Lori of “Just me and My Life”: If you were a flavor of ice cream, which would you be?

Peppermint stick ice cream! Because I am sweet yet, minty! Ha!

5. Cindy Swanson of “Notes in the Key of Life” asks: Have you ever had a crush on a movie star? Who was it, and are you still crushing?

Oh my gosh I totally loved David Cassidy as a teenager, as a grown up I think that a young Russell Crowe is a total Hunk and lately Ben Affleck. (Have you seen “The Town”?)

6. Jill from “Jill Boyd’s Place” inquires: Glasses or braces–if you had to wear one, which would it be?

Glasses. I wear them anyway so why not.

7. Nel from “Fasteneau Facts” asks: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Right where I am. If not here then I think somewhere by the ocean.

8. Thena from “Patiently Waiting” wants to know: If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive?

A coupon for a free derma peel!

9. From “Life Through Bifocals,” LynnMarie asks: What is your favorite birthday meal?

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, butternut squash, and peas. With chocolate cake and butter cream frosting. If this sounds close to a Thanksgiving meal, well you’d be right, which is why I have only had this meal once for my birthday. At my surprise party. My birthday is November 17th, so my mother never wanted to make two turkey dinners!

10. Debby at “Just Breathe” checks in with: Do you still send hand-written thank you notes?

Yes. I try to remember.

11. Linda from “Mocha with Linda” poses this question: What is something you’ve done that you never thought you’d do?

I got up on stage at a concert and sang with the band!

12. Jewel, my homegirl from Indiana who writes at “Musings from the World of Jewel,” is very insistent that we answer this: Mount Rushmore honors four US Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?

I’d add Ronald Reagan. He helped to bring down the Iron Curtain, he helped restore a sense of pride in being an American and love him or hate him, you have to admit that he was a real gentleman, with principles.

Food, Food & More Food

Friday was a too busy day. I had cooking to do, laundry to do and a report to write. I thought I’d gotten the report done okay, but when I went back and looked (and got a few corrections from various people) I saw the mistakes and had to rewrite some of it.

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Now, I think it is done, and I have walked away from it.

I’m also in the middle of making spaghetti sauce. I am making a triple batch and will freeze it for late use. I also have a Sauerbraten soaking to cook on Saturday, and a turkey thawing to cook on Sunday.  After we’ve eaten some of the turkey, I will make turkey soup and freeze it.

Hubby and I also watched a movie. “Gone Baby, Gone”. It starred Casey Affleck and was directed by his brother, Ben. WOW! Watch it. They try to imagine what you would do!

Friday Fil-Ins

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Happy Labor Day weekend to all who celebrate it. And…here we go!

1. Family  love.

2. Stir back and forth. (What can I say? I’ve been cooking a lot lately!)

3. I love a wonderful man, fabulous daughter and terrific family. I am Blessed.

4. Lobster and corn makes a good meal.

5. I’ve got the best recipe for tomato sauce!

6. Looks like the rain is going to miss us: wth!!! (We need rain!)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to Emily arriving, tomorrow my plans include making roasted eggplant with Em and Sunday, I want to grocery shop and work on making Chow Chow (Green Tomato Relish), and watch The US Open Tennis!!

Friday Fil-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

This & That

Today is another big cooking day. I have more zucchini to use up, so I will be making at least two batches of zucchini bread, and I also have about 4 pounds of ripe tomatoes, so I will be making more sauce to freeze.

I’m really amazed at how prolific my garden has been this year! In the past we have had good luck with things, but nothing like this. Everything is growing, and I have been able to put up so much, in the freezer for enjoyment this winter!

On Saturday I made Hubby one of his favorite meals. Slow-Cooked Boneless Pork Ribs. You toss them in the slow cooker with sliced onions and some of your favorite barbecue sauce and cook them on low all day. They are just yummy!

Oh yes, and the best news regarding eating comes about Anneliese. She is back to eating normally again! This is something I am so happy about.

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She’s lost a lot of weight and I was starting to worry, but she is looking good now and when I came home yesterday from getting the mail, she heard me in the basement and started to bark a greeting!

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In other words, she is close to being back to her old self!

Arnie was very cute today with Hubby, trying to get on his good side.

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It’s my theory that Arnie is trying to convince Hubby that he should be the one to go off on these grand adventures that Hubby takes Fritz on. I’m sure that Fritz tells Arnie how wonderful the adventures are, and poor Arnie feels like he is really missing out on things.

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I’ve told him that he”s not, but a trip to the Post Office with me next week may be what he needs, or perhaps I’ll take him off to the park all by himself for a nice long walk!

Friday Fil-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

And…here we go!

1. Laughter _Is the best medicine_.

2. _Thursday. I cannot_ are the three words that started off the last email I sent.

3. What I’m most looking forward to today is _Fried whole belly clams?_.

4. _My family_ puts a smile on my face.

5. Where in the world _can I find a little peace and quiet?_

6. _A cup of tea is_ just what I needed!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _a fresh eggplant from my garden_, tomorrow my plans include _walking Anneliese_ and Sunday, I want to _curl up with a cup of coffee and read the Sunday paper_!

Friday Fil-Ins is sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!