Memorial Day...2010 !

All the fancy words have been said.

All of the speeches, all of the parades, all of the praise...all finished! Only one thing remains. Perhaps the most important thing of all! A final tribute for the remembered that says more in it's simplicity than any other!



Have a good Memorial Day, everyone! Fresh coffee on the patio!

My Thoughts For Sunday...!

Sometimes words just can't say out loud the thoughts you have inside!

At times like that, I tend to turn to music to speak for me. This man has a way of doing it better than nearly anyone else I know.

So, for this Sunday before Memorial Day, here's my thoughts for today!



That's all for me!

Now, fresh coffee on the patio this morning. How about it?

Nice Dream, But...!

We all are a little guilty of day dreaming, but for most of us...reality kicks in quick enough to not let us suffer too long!

I'm thinking that the government is doing whatever it can to keep us in a day dream state, so we don't face the reality of how things are...or how they are going to be!

Let me give you an example...

The car pictured is a Mercedes Maybach

Notice the 'recliner' rear seats, and the 'electrostatic' sunroof. The sunroof turns from opaque to crystal clear depending on the passenger's preference.






NOW, STOP DREAMING AND GET BACK TO WORK! BE HAPPY WITH THE CHANGES THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLANNED FOR YOU!

Now that we've all had our daily dose of government induced "day dream"...it's time to face up to our reality as it may be if some serious changes are not made!

Want a good look at what's down the road? OK, you asked for it!



Got that? GOOD! Don't forget it come election time!

Now, my friend, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen. It's raining outside...sorry!

Don't Forget The Red Poppy...!

Here is a bit of history about the custom of using the Red Poppy to mark Memorial Day!

Once again, I found this bit of information in the pages of the Old Farmer's Almanac. Very appropriate, and I'm not sure if many are familiar with this small piece of American history!

Red Poppies and Peace

Since World War I, poppies have been a symbol of remembrance at Memorial Day (May 31). The red poppy was used to symbolize the blood of those who died in service to their countries.

The idea started in 1918 when American Moina Michael read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian John McCrae in 1915 during World War I. She began wearing poppies and selling them to others, using the proceeds to help veterans.

After World War I, veterans sold artificial red poppies to help raise money for French and Belgian war orphans. Today, donations to veterans’ groups are often marked with a token paper red poppy.

Just a little something that I wanted to share!

Now, how about some fresh coffee on the patio? Looks like a nice day for it!

A Little Gift From China And The FDA...!

We all know just how dedicated the FDA is in their work, right?

Here is a fine example of just how much they truly care about the safety of folks in this country! If they would just do the job they are supposed to, and quit bothering to meddle in the private lives of our citizens...nothing like this would ever happen!

Want some arsenic with that supplement?

You probably wouldn't expect to find mercury or arsenic or pesticides in your over-the-counter herbal dietary supplements.

But investigators, according to The New York Times, found them in there. The heavy metals were not considered to be at dangerous levels, but 16 of 40 samples did contain pesticides beyond legal limits.

The report, prepared by the Government Accountability Office, was provided to The New York Times before its release. It will be made public at a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on dietary supplements today in Washington.

The New York Times article goes beyond the study, which comes ahead of a massive food safety bill down the road and delves into the regulation of supplements, including vitamins:

In recent years, a vast majority of supplement suppliers have located overseas -- principally in China. Nearly all of the vitamin C and many other supplements consumed in the United States are made from ingredients made in Chinese plants. Those plants are almost never inspected by the FDA because the agency is not required to do so, has little money to do so and does not view the plants as particularly risky.

Read the rest of the story here.

Now doesn't that just give you a warm and fuzzy feeling all over...knowing just how well the FDA id protecting you from all the bad things? Better check and make sure that warm and fuzzy feeling isn't coming from the supplements approved by the FDA, ya know?

Just a suggestion!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit! OK? OK...!

Want A Grin With Your Coffee...?

I thought that just maybe everyone could use a little humor today!

Knowing that I could provide as little as anyone, and in doing my part to keep you all smiling some...I decided to share this with you!

TWENTY NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

1. My wife and I divorced over religious differences. She thought she was God and I didn't.

2. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

4. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

5. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

6. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.

7. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

8. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

9. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.

10. Out of my mind.. Back in five minutes.

11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.

12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

13. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

15. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

16. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!

17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

18. Procrastinate Now!

19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

23. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

24. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

26. Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

27. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

28. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

29. I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
Life is too short and friends are too few!

Well, my friends, I hope that helps to start your day off with a grin! I did my part...the rest is up to you, ya know?

Now, how about some fresh coffee on the patio. Gonna be another hot one today!

Now... What Was Your Excuse Again...?

We can always find an excuse to not have a garden!

I'll admit that many of the reasons are much better than others, but here is a story of a Texan serving in Iraq that didn't make excuses...he made a garden!

Gardening in Iraq: Officer's effort lifts spirits

Forty-two miles north of Baghdad, a small contingent of U.S. gardeners has gained some homegrown ground. Their vegetable plot at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, has had its ups and downs. The giant lima and snap beans have been a hit. The 'Clemson Spineless' okra was mostly a no-show.

Gardening there brings a good dose of failures as well as successes, reports Lt. Col. Donal Dunbar, the top gardener and director of operations at the Air Force Theater Hospital on the base. Dunbar, who's due to return home to San Antonio next month, is serving his second, six-month Iraq tour. His 14-member gardening club began planting in February.

Balad lies near the Tigris River and is more suitable for agriculture than other parts of Iraq. Irrigation water from the river helps. But with no rain and high heat during the growing season, the gardeners contend with great odds: Triple-digit temperatures. Soil that clings to shoes like peanut butter when it rains at planting time or is wind-whipped into brown dust as seedlings attempt to grow. Zero humidity. High winds.



When the lack of humidity and wind dealt the okra a one-two blow, Dunbar knew variety selection was key. 'Clemson Spineless,' which does well in the humid Southern United States, didn't fare as well in Iraq as a type grown from local seed.

Dunbar, 46, has gardened since he was 9 years old. The Troy, Ala., native grew a row of onions during his first Iraq tour in 2008. Although he works 12-hour shifts six days a week, his second tour has allowed more gardening time.

The nutritional and psychological values of gardening during wartime are well-documented. Americans planted victory gardens during World War II, when fuel-rationing made food transportation difficult. But gardening can also provide a mental escape and a connection to nature and home.

Growing vegetables has been a morale booster to those living spartan lives in CHUs, or containerized housing units, on the base.

"I knew it would help me, and I guess I was far from alone," Dunbar says. "People heard about it and wanted to jump in and help, so I expanded my original concept. Several people have told me that the work on the weekends (when most have their day off) is like therapy."

One is chief nurse Col. Eleanor Foreman. "Gardening has always been a favorite hobby, but I never thought I'd be enjoying it here, too," she says. "In this demanding environment, even just a short time tending to the garden each day allows me to relax and clear my mind while still remaining productive. Being able to witness this quiet beauty even in a place like this is inspirational."



With few resources and poor soil, these gardeners had to improvise. Digging with shovels and a pick-ax, and using parachute cord and rebar to make straight lines, they created a large plot with three 40-foot rows. The rows are 2- to 3-inch-deep trenches that direct water to thirsty roots and protect young plants from the wind. Raised beds were planted in the hospital courtyard. Carrying water to the plots in gallon buckets, the gardeners are growing summer squash, cantaloupe, peppers, tomatoes and Iraqi eggplants -- all started in small pots on windowsills before being transplanted outdoors.



Weeds, they discovered, can provide wind protection while vegetables establish. Then, it's a good idea to pull them so they won't rob the crops of nutrition.

Two boxes of cigarellos helped battle aphids. Dunbar placed the small cigars in water and let them sit in the sun for a day, brewing a pest-tackling "tea."

Summer squash were transplanted by Feb. 1, and beans and cucumbers were in the ground by mid-February. In March, some plants struggled in the heat and wind, but the red potatoes (shipped from the States) grew vigorously.

The white pumpkin vines were a surprise.

Beans were the great success story. Mid-April, the gardeners enjoyed eating them fresh in SPC Nazha Lakrik's Moroccan lamb-bean stew.

This month, 100-plus degree temperatures and harsh sun rays are bearing down. The lima and snap beans are working hard, and the peas, from local seed, are holding ground. But a rabbit is attacking the potatoes.

"I knew the danger he would pose once the weeds and grass started to dry out, leaving our little patch as the only juicy, green spot on his dinner menu," Dunbar writes in his weekly gazette. "We'll just have to see how this one plays out."

Dunbar will possibly skip that chapter. He's scheduled to rejoin his wife and two daughters next month in Texas, where he'll turn his attention to the family's vegetable garden and enjoy homegrown tomatoes.



A palm tree Dunbar planted in the 'Oasis' in 2008. He said it's doing well. There's another raised bed behind it with the basil growing in it.


kathy.huber@chron.com

Now, if they can do it...we can do it! Right? Right!

Fresh coffee on the patio this morning, if that's OK with you!

Remembering...!

My very good friend Kyddryn sent me this in an email. Thanks to her for doing so...!

It's well worth sharing, so I'm passing it on to all of you!


What else needs to be said? Nothing !

C'mon, my friends, coffee on the patio this morning! God Bless Our Troops...past and present!

Stupid Is As Stupid Does...!

There are times when I really have to wonder about my fellow man!

I like a great view as much as the next guy...but there are limits as to what I will do to enjoy one! If you ask me, these guys have taken one too many falls on their heads!

Of course, this is only my opinion. Why don't you take a look at these pictures and see if you agree?



I don't think I would be very comfortable even walking here...and I know that I DAMN sure wouldn't be trying to do a wheelie on my bicycle! In fact, I'm pretty sure that a bicycle is one of the last things I would even consider bringing with me on this jaunt!



All you have to do to get a feel for just how nuts these folks are, is to look out over the edge of where they are riding. You have to wonder...don't they have roads where they live? How about bike trails? I would think that somewhere close to their home is a place that is a lot more level, and a heck of a lot safer!



Now, I'm no expert on these things...but I'd be willing to bet that as slow and as hard as the trip up must have been, the trip down this little hill is going to be a lot easier and faster. A LOT FASTER !!



I have just a couple of suggestions for these guys. First of all, DON'T DO IT !

Second suggestion ? Leave the bike helmets at home BRING A PARACHUTE INSTEAD...!

Now, my friends, my suggestion for us? Let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! Suddenly the flat land around here looks pretty good!

Don't Want To Stand In Line...?

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this particular development.

I am the very first to admit, I don't like to stand in line! I hate having to stand in lines...! I think that's a hangover from the military days, when we had to stand in line for everything! So anything that can prevent me from standing in line is a good thing!

Have gun, will travel into the Texas state capitol

By JAY ROOT Associated Press Writer © 2010 The Associated Press
May 21, 2010, 4:27PM

AUSTIN, Texas — With security concerns on the rise, metal detectors finally are finally being installed and turned on at the Texas Capitol.

But there's one way citizens, lobbyists and other visitors can escape the lines: Carry a concealed handgun.

In the building where the conceal-and-carry law was written, Texans are not only allowed to pack heat. Under the new security procedures, there's now practically an incentive to be armed — or at least to hold the license for it.

Officials are creating one line for the masses, one line for lawmakers and their staffs and then a totally separate procedure for concealed handgun license holders. The general public has to get scanned at the entrances. State officials — and gun-toting citizenry — do not.

Now it seems to me that it would almost be worth the trouble to get the license to carry, even if you really don't intend to do so. That is, if you are going to be going to the State capitol on a regular basis!

It seems strange to me that you can carry a gun concealed in the state capitol, but can't carry in a restaurant or a bar! It seems strange that you can carry a concealed weapon inside, but aren't allowed to smoke within 50 feet of the front door!

It's all too confusing to me! I'm basically a simple man, and I like things to be laid out in a simple fashion! Somehow, this doesn't seem to be simple!

Now, my friend, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! Don't worry, no lines and NO scanners!

What Our Colors Mean...!

This article pretty much sums up what the colors on the American Flag mean!

Of course, they mean something different to each and every one of us, but I think that this explains it as well as anything I have ever seen!

I am the Flag

by Ruth Apperson Rous

I am the flag of the United States of America.

I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.

There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.

My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."

I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.

Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.

I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.

Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.

Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.

God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.

That just about sums it up for me!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside before it gets too hot! We can watch the garden grow, and the flag waving in the wind!

Show Some Damn Respect...!

Do you know this man? Do you recognize him?

He could be your grandfather, or your father, or your brother! Maybe he looks like your uncle or your cousin...!

When you see an older man like this gentleman, you can almost guarantee that he is a Veteran!

When was the last time that you paid a visit to who ever this old man reminds you of? When was the last time that you spent some time with them, just talking to them and letting them know you were thinking about them?

When was the last time you just walked up to him, gave him a hug, and told him "Thank you"? It doesn't take very long, and it could mean the world to this man!

There he sits, his best friend beside him with a look of love in his eyes! The dog knows what a great guy his owner is, without question!

See the Flag next to the old man? Notice the fondness and respect the old man has in his eyes as he looks at the Flag? You can bet that the Flag, and what it stands for, is never far from the thoughts and the heart of this proud individual!



Here in the next picture we can see a parade in Everytown, U.S.A. coming down the street. There may be a similar parade scheduled this up-coming holiday weekend in your hometown. Remember, it is Memorial Day weekend!

See that group of men in uniform leading the parade? That's called the Honor Guard! It's called that for a good reason...!

See what they are carrying? That's the American Flag, the Colors that represent your country! That's the Flag that represents what this old guy, and many others just like him, fought and bled and died for!

That's the reason that this old guy, bound to his wheel chair because he is probably unable to walk, is bravely trying to stand up as the Flag approaches!

His intent? To show his respect...!



Now why aren't the rest of the folks around there standing? Why are they still sitting on their butts when the Flag approaches? Why don't they stand with their hand over their hearts when the National Anthem is played?

I'll tell you why! NO RESPECT !! No respect for the things that are really important! For their elders, for their Flag, for their history, and for the men and women that made the ultimate sacrifices so that each and every day could be lived to the fullest, free from tyranny and oppression!

It seems to me that the very least all of these curb sitters could do...is Show some damn respect!

You want to know what the saddest part about this whole thing is? It's sad that anyone, ANYONE, should have to be reminded to do these things! Sad that the simple act of showing respect isn't taught by the schools, the parents, the elders...and if it is taught, it's even sadder that the idea doesn't come to mind automatically, without any prompting!

This Memorial Day, please remember to stand for the music, stand for the Honor Guard, stand for the Flag! In other words...do the right thing! Out of RESPECT...!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit!

Newer Gateway To The Blue Nowhere...!

I should have given this update yesterday, but i didn't!

The trip across town was a real adventure, to say the least! But I did find a nice little computer for Mom that was better than what she had before...and a heck of a lot faster!

She couldn't get over how much faster it was...and because of that, she will probably enjoy using the computer a lot more! At least she won't get as frustrated with what is supposed to be a fun activity, ya know?

Here's what I brought home from the store for her. Keep in mind that she does mainly basic stuff like email and limited browsing. I'm sure this will more than meet her needs, and if Mom is happy...I'm happy!

We all know how that works, right?

I've used HP several times, and have to admit I've had fairly good luck with them. So, keeping that in mind and because of the price being so good...the choice was made!

HP 1.6gz, 512mb Ram, and 40 GB HDD.... Plenty of memory, plenty of speed, and plenty of room for her to play with!

Heck, I had so much fun doing this, I may go shopping for another 'puter for myself! Just what I need, right?

Think I would be better off investing in some more canned goods! Computers are nice, but ya can't eat them...at least, I don't think so!

Let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! OK, my friends?

Don't Mess With This Granny...!

Governments, both local and federal, are finding out that people are just plain tired of being bullied!

I picked up this story from PTShamrock...and it';s amusing to read, but only because of the good guys winning one again!

This particular case was in England, but you can bet that things like this are happening here in the States every day!

Hauled into court over a cardboard box-

A grandmother was dragged to court - after carefully leaving a cardboard box next to a council recycling bin.

Lynne had taken the box which held her new washing machine to the recycling point at a Somerfield supermarket near her home in Wickford,Essex, in October. It was too big to fit in the slot and the bin was nearly full. Lynne,59, was filmed wedging it between two bins to stop it blowing away.

Days later she got a card from Basildon Council asking her to call about "an incident". An environmental officer later turned up at the fancy dress shop she runs and handed her a GBP 300 fine. She threw it in a bin and ordered him out.

On March 22 she received a letter charging her with"depositing controlled waste" and summoning her before JPs. That's right people - just for putting a cardboard box in-between two bins which were too small to take the full box, Lynne Doyle was fined GBP 300.

Many would have been bullied by the council into paying up. Luckily, Lynne did not...so she was ordered before a court. However, on the advice of a lawyer she requested trial by jury.

What do you think happened...? She has now received a letter, without apology or explanation, saying the council was dropping the case.

So Lynne gets threatened with a fine and then trial; but when she pushes back the council retreats. It shouldn't end there - if you are outraged by this action by Basildon, the contact details for their refuse and recycling team are here. Why not ask them why they subjected a 59 year-old women to this ordeal?

This should be a wake up call to all of us that believe in the power of Truth and Justice! Once the PTB realize that folks are going to fight back, and not just be quietly led around by the nose...some of the bullying will stop!

I think that Great Britain far out does the U.S. in pushing people around...but at least we now know of one person that refuses to just stand by and take it!

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit. We can toast to the English Granny with some backbone!

No Official Post Today...!

I'm sorry, but due to life getting in the way (as it is prone to do sometimes), I won't have an official post until later today!

I may not even have one until tomorrow, it really just depends on the errands I get taken care of for Mom.

She has finally decided to agree to a newer computer! Oh Happy Day...! So, I'll be going to pick up a new one for her and then I'll have to spend some time with her to go over how to use it!

I would rather do a lot of things today...but Mom has to be first on the agenda, ya know?

Seems to be the very least I can do after all she has done for me! She doesn't ask a lot, but I'm happy to do whatever I can to make her feel a little better about the world of the Internet!

So, that's where I'm off to and that's the plan. But you all know what they say about plans, right?

Coffee is ready...just help yourself!

Hell Hath No Fury Like ...Well, You Know !

Most of us already know that it's a very bad thing to understand a woman!

Even worse, don't make one mad then ask for something! BIG MISTAKE...!! Here's what I mean!

A sixteen year-old boy came home with a new Chevrolet Avalanche and his parents began to yell and scream, 'Where did you get that truck???!!!' He calmly told them, 'I bought it today.'

'With what money?' demanded his parents. They knew what a Chevrolet Avalanche cost.

'Well,' said the boy, 'this one cost me just fifteen dollars.' So the parents began to yell even louder. 'Who would sell a truck like that for fifteen dollars?' they said.

'It was the lady up the street,' said the boy. I don't know her name - they just moved in. She saw me ride past on my bike and asked me if I wanted to buy a Chevrolet Avalanche for fifteen dollars.'

'Oh my Goodness!,' moaned the mother, 'she must be a child abuser. Who knows what she will do next? John, you go right up there and see what's going on.'

So the boy's father walked up the street to the house where the lady lived and found her out in the yard calmly planting petunias!

He introduced himself as the father of the boy to whom she had sold a new Chevrolet Avalanche for fifteen dollars and demanded to know why she did it.

'Well,' she said, 'this morning I got a phone call from my husband. I thought he was on a business trip, but learned from a friend he had run off to Hawaii with his mistress and really doesn't intend to come back.

He claimed he was stranded and needed cash, and asked me to sell his new Chevrolet Avalanche and send him the money.

So I did.'

(Are women good or what?)

I don't know about you...but I would have known better! My Momma didn't raise no fool !

C'mon, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit!

Thank You Rudyard Kipling...!

This poem really nails it!

Probably more relevant today than it was in 1909 when it was written! It is considered by many as a guide to live by.

Certainly a good inspirational way to start the weekend, don't you think?

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

What an amazing talent! Well worth spending a little time to read, I think!

How about som fresh coffee in the kitchen, my friends? Raining outside this morning!

Too Old To "Cut The Mustard"...?

Do you have any mustard in your Preps?

I found some interesting things that mustard can be used for, besides just adding to a hot dog...that would make it a great thing to have on hand.

Seems like our old friend Mustard is very useful around the house! Evidently it has been for some time, so just maybe we should double check and see if we have plenty on hand!

Mustard has a myriad of alternative uses, most of them health related. Surprisingly, the condiment can be used to prevent or relieve ailments and some diseases. Its medicinal value may not be as potent as a prescription drug, but it sure comes in handy during emergency situations. Mustard, aside from its therapeutic uses, can also function as a makeshift cosmetic product and an odor remover. With its overall usefulness, you’d be glad to have a bottle around. Here are 12 of the most surprising uses for mustard.

1. Sore Throat Relief

Mustard can be used as an ingredient of a natural sore throat relieving solution. Mix mustard with some lemon juice, a spoon of salt, honey and a half cup of hot water. Let the solution settle for about 10 minutes. Once done, gargle the solution until your throat clears. The solution’s effect should last for about a couple of days. If your sore throat returns, just make another batch of the gargling solution.

2. Bottle Deodorizer

Many products are packaged with attractive bottles. The problem is, the substances previously held by those containers may not have pleasing aromas, which can still be smelled from inside the bottles. Mustard comes as your unconventional solution for this concern. Place a little mustard inside a bottle then add hot water. Shake the bottle vigorously. Once done, rinse off the mustard solution. The bottle’s stench will be gone right after.

3. Chest Decongestant

Mustard, for some reason, can help eliminate the buildup of phlegm inside the body. In place of a topical decongestant, you can rub mustard on your chest. Place a cloth, soaked in hot water, on top of the mustard. Within minutes, you will feel better. Do the same for your back and if you have sinusitis, your forehead.

4.Cosmetic Mask

Aside from enhancing the flavor of food, mustard can also accentuate the beauty of your skin, particularly your face. Spread a thin layer of mustard throughout your face. Let it settle for a few minutes then rinse. After rinsing, your face will be smoother and will bear a nice healthy glow. Though, before proceeding with the facial treatment, make sure that your skin is not highly sensitive.

5. Skunk Smell Remover

Skunks are notorious for leaving a pungent aroma on random objects that they encounter. If you accidentally run a skunk over, your car will pretty much smell like a roving trash compactor. Remove the odor by mixing dry mustard with hot water. When the odor-removing solution is ready, splash it on your car or any affected object. Let the solution settle for awhile then rinse. The skunk odor will then be gone, down to the last bit.

6. Stink Bomb

Want to play a prank on your dorky friends? Mix mustard with vinegar and fish sauce then place the smelly concoction in a small plastic bag. Inflate the bag then seal it. With the stink bomb ready, go to where your dweeby buddies are. Pop your annoying little creation then hide. Watch their faces form constipated expressions, as they gag on the stink bomb’s stench. (For more information on stink bombs, read how to make stink bombs

7. Muscle-Relaxing Bath

Athletes and old people often complain about their stiff and strained muscles. You can remedy this condition by tossing in mustard and Epsom salt to your bathwater. Mustard will amplify the therapeutic effects of the chemical compound, relieving you of muscle pains at a much faster rate than bathing with Epsom salt alone.

8. Relief for Tired Feet

A busy day may take its toll on your poor feet. Give your feet some TLC by preparing a refreshing mustard-based “footwash.” Mix two spoons of mustard with hot water in a pan or basin. Soak your feet in the solution for about half an hour, which is enough time to drown your foot aches and pains. When you step out of the basin, you will have a pair of clean rejuvenated feet.

9. Backache-Treating Bath

Having a sore back is pretty discomforting. It restricts your movements while you endure the pain. You can end the agony by making a bath that remedies aching muscles, including arthritis and sprains. Fill the bathtub with hot water then add 8 ounces of mustard. Mix the two until they blend. Bathe in the solution for about 20 minutes. When you leave the bathroom, the aches and pains will either be gone or greatly reduced.

10. Weed Growth Prevention

According to scientists, the substances released by white mustard seed onto the soil can prevent the growth of weed and other pesky plants. Plant a handful of mustard seeds near your prized plants or scatter the seeds throughout your garden. Garden weed will still sprout but they’ll be significantly less in number. Just uproot them with your bare hands. Remember, before planting the seeds, you should do some research first. Some plants are harmed by mustard’s secretions, just like garden weed.

11. The Unwanted Scent of Men
Research says, sweat mixed with the body’s natural scent comes as a natural aphrodisiac, which works only for humans. For large garden pests like deer and other wild animals, that scent makes them flee the area. Recreate the scent of sweaty farm workers by placing a generous servings of mustard on several tin plates. Hang the plates around your garden or lawn. Upon smelling the mustard, Bambi and his fawn friends will instantly realize their limits, when it comes to grazing.

12. Hair Conditioner

Mustard oil, in terms of treating damaged hair, works like a top quality hair conditioner. Pour a generous amount of oil on your palm. Rub both of your palm together then scrub and massage your hair. Once done, leave the mustard oil on your hair for about eight hours, or for the entire day, if you choose. Rinse the oil with shampoo and conditioner. Upon rinsing, you hair will be softer and more bouncy, as if it came right out of a shampoo commercial.

Mustard, with its number of benefits, is more useful than what its appearance suggests. For a relatively cheap price, the remarkable condiment improves your health in more ways than one, and most of them aren’t found on the label. You will find mustard’s alternative uses just as wonderful as the distinct flavor that it possesses. So during your next trip to the mini mart, be sure to purchase an extra bottle.

After finding all of this out, I'm thinking that even if you are getting too old to "cut the mustard" anymore...you may want to store up a few extra jars, know what I mean?

Like insurance, better to have it and not need it...than need it and not have it!

C'mon, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside on the patio!

Bring Your Own Doggie Bag...!

I have to admit, this story sounded like someone was taking advantage of the city to stock up on what might be considered a necessary prep item!

The bags in the story could certainly come in handy in an emergency situation, but I don't think this is exactly the way I would go about it!

Minn. city stops providing free doggie bags

Associated Press
May 10, 2010, 10:15AM

EDINA, Minn. — Need to scoop up after your pooch in the affluent Minneapolis suburb of Edina? You'll now have to bring your own bag after the city stopped providing freebies.

Edina has been hit by thefts of city-provided dog poop bags, and also is looking to save money. So this year the city stopped providing the free bags at stations in Edina parks.

Director of Parks and Recreation John Keprios says park workers would fill dispensers in the morning and find them empty by noon.

Keprios says, "People walk up and take them until they're gone." He says it was "not just one isolated incident. It's everywhere and often."

It cost about $12,000 a year to keep the dispensers full at the eight parks with the stations.

You have to admit, the folks taking more than their fair share of the city-provided doggie bags certainly are showing some effort to stock up! Trouble is, just how many poop containers does one family need?

However, I do admire the fact that they intend to clean up after Fido...unless they have some other secret use for these bags! I know! It's for when the (dog)SH** HITS THE FAN...right?

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit. We can guess at the weather!

The Chilly Saints...!

Here's a little bit of weather lore you may not know.

I'm glad to find this out, because I was starting to believe that this was a new weather pattern. I don't know if I'm more comfortable knowing it's been around a while, but I think I am!

Mother Nature certainly has her own way of doing things...and a lot of those ways are still a mystery to us today.

Spring may be in full swing, but May 11, 12, and 13 often revert to the colder days of winter, according to weather lore.

The Three Chilly Saints—Mamertus, Pancras, and Gervais (also called Mammertius, Pancratius, and Gervatius or Servatius)—often celebrated their feast days during a cold snap. Some called them the Ice Saints or Frost Saints, and many farmers held off planting until after the Three Chilly Saints’ days had passed.

Germans knew these days as the Icemen Days, and both the English and French watched for a late frost at around this time. St. Boniface (May 14) and the chilly “blackthorn winds” were sometimes associated with them, too.

St. Pancras Day [May 12] never passes without frost.

I'm thankful to the Farmer's Almanac for this little bit of weather lore! They are always a good, reliable source of all kinds of information!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and try the patio for a bit! We may have to move inside, but we can start here with a view of the garden!

I Still Like Ike...!

I'm thinking that Eisenhower had it right!

I'm thinking that we could surely use a LOT of this kind of wisdom in today's government! It's a shame that we don't!

Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Our pleasures were simple - they included survival.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice; their choice!
Dwight D. Eisenhower

There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

We are tired of aristocratic explanations in Harvard words.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Even though Eisenhower was from a different time, his wisdom tends to lend itself very well to the political climate we have today!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit!

How Great The Human Spirit...!

Lately I have found myself feeling more and more as though I was losing ground.

I started feeling that I was losing sight of my dreams, unable to accomplish the things I wanted to do. In short, I was giving up before I even gave myself a chance to get started.

I was beginning to listen to those that told me what I wanted could not be obtained, my dreams could not be realized, and my options were limited more than I wished.

I was getting depressed, started feeling sorry for myself, and was becoming less positive day by day!

Then, by a stroke of luck, I happened across this gentleman and his music! He had a dream, was told he could not succeed, and went ahead anyway! This video shows just how successful he was in his quest!



Now, after hearing this man's story, after seeing the pure wonder of the human spirit as shown by him, I am rejuvenated and once again determined to remain positive! How could I not?

It is the nature of most men to dream. It is not the nature of successful men to give up! To give up on a dream before even attempting to reach it, is or should be foreign to our way of thinking.

So, positive again, in pursuit of my dreams again, and much more confident than before...I now set out to start my journey into my future anew. I am only limited by the restrictions that are self imposed. These are the only voices that should guide me, the only ones that really matter! Success perceived is success achieved...and the personal joy in such achievement is it's own reward!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit!

It Can't Be Said Enough...!

How could we possibly, in just one day, expect to properly thank the defining force in our lives.

Mothers have nearly always been a source of strength for many of us. There is just no way to ever mention how many ways they have had a positive effect on our lives...hosting the many parties, making the costumes for Halloween, serving as a keeper of secrets, as someone to share our sorrows and help celebrate our successes.

Mothers pass on to next generations the well guarded family recipes, the little known short cuts in preparation, the humorous stories not well known by others about their younger years, and gentle suggestions on ways to avoid the same traps and pitfalls they themselves experienced.

Mothers always believe in us, in spite of what we think. They never want anything but the best for us, never lose faith in us, ask for nothing in return for the most part except to silently hope not to be forgotten.

For these reasons and many more I didn't mention...I want to take this opportunity to wish all of the Mothers, the future Mothers, the grandmothers,even the wanna-be mothers a very happy Mother's Day!

I hope we can always be thankful for what they do, and that we remember to tell them so! Treat them with respect, think of them fondly, and love them with the same steadfastness that they do us.

Happy Mothers Day!!

Now, let's get some coffee and sit on the patio for a bit! Nice and cool outside this morning!

They're Calling It A "Cold Front"...1

I'm sorry, but when I think of a "cold front" I have something totally different in mind!

I like the warm (hot to most folks) days...but when someone refers to the temperature dropping down into the 80's...that to me is NOT a cold front!

Read this story from the Houston Chronicle and see what you think!

Cooler weekend on tap for Houston

By DALE LEZON Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
May 7, 2010, 6:30AM

A brief cool down from recent near 90-degree heat is likely early this weekend as a mild cold front speeds through the region, sparking thunderstorms, high winds and possibly hail north of Houston.

But only a slight chance of rain is expected in the city when the front pushes through to the coast Saturday.

The storms, which may pack high winds and small hail but only light rain, are likely to hit north of Houston along a line from College Station to Conroe, especially late tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

But the front will drop temperatures slightly here as clouds build above the region and winds become northeasterly, forecasters said.

Muggy heat returns late this weekend and early next week, which will be sunny and warm.

Today will be breezy with a high temperature near 91 degrees under partly sunny skies. South/southeast winds will be between 10 mph and 15 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.

The overnight low will be about 70 degrees. A slight chance of rain is possible.

Saturday, a short break from the heat is likely as the front arrives and winds become east/northeast at 10 mph to 15 mph.

The high temperature dips to 82 degrees under mostly cloudy skies and the overnight low will be about 65.

A slight chance of rain is possible.

Forecasters said muggy heat will begin returning Sunday as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico flows onshore and humidity levels and temperatures gradually climb during the next few days.

The high temperature will be about 85 degrees and the low will be 73. Southeast winds will be between 10 mph and 15 mph with gusts as 20 mph.

Much of next week is forecast to be mostly sunny and hot with highs near 90 degrees and lows in the mid 70s. No rain is forecast.

dale.lezon@chron.com

I think that temperatures in the 80's would be pretty warm for a lot of places in the states, but only in Texas would the weather guys call this a "cold front"...!

Let's get some fresh coffee and sit on the patio, my friends, before this cold front moves in...OK?

Ya Gotta Love Grandkids...!

If any of you have ever been around your grand kids at times like these, you'll recognize one or more of these statements!

You may have heard them from your own kids! Either way, it's always fun to see life from a child's point of view!

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye....

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods."

The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued.. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these colors yourself!"

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised "Mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting." she said. "How do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find
the fire hydrants."

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.

What about it? Anything sound familiar? You just have to love the mind of a child!

Now, my friends, let's have some fresh coffee on the patio! Looks like another beautiful day!

Still Searching For The Perfect Brisket Recipe...!

For several years now I have been on the look out for the perfect brisket and chili recipes!

These two things can make a delicious meal when done right...and they don't cost a lot to feed a bunch of folks!

I've tried a multitude of recipes in the search for the perfect one...but still I haven't found "the One", if you know what I mean?

I do admit, though, some of the ones I've found are pretty darn good! I'm trying out a new one today that can be done in the crock pot! That's my kind of cooking, especially in the summer!
Here's one from the folks at Allrecipes.com

Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

1 three pound brisket
2 bottles chili sauce (12 ounce ea.)
1 pack Onion soup mix
2 Teaspoons garlic powder

Place the brisket in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix together the chili sauce, onion soup mix, and garlic powder. Pour over the brisket.

Cover and cook on the low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

Slice the brisket against the grain, and pour the extra gravy over the slices!

Now, this is just about as simple as it gets! Plus you don't have to worry about getting the kitchen too hot or burning and over cooking the brisket!

I'm thinking that some smashed 'taters and fresh baked bread would make this a nearly perfect meal!

Shoot! Now I'm hungry again! Guess I'll go have a bologna sandwich until the brisket is done!

Now, my friends, how about some coffee on the patio? If we hurry, we can beat the heat!

Just How Limber Can You Be...?

You know, one of the first things you notice disappearing when you get older is the ability to bend the way you used to!

These ladies, back in 1944, do some bending that I don't think I was ever able to do...even in my very best year!

I'm not sure...but I don't think the human form was ever meant to do some of this stuff! If I were to try ANY of it, I can only imagine how my poor body would feel the next day!

One thing about it, this is what you could call a great workout! If it didn't kill ya first, that is!



This was made the same year that I was born! Wow...! No matter when it was made, it is amazing to watch, don't you think? Wears me out, to see those girls exercising so hard!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit on the patio for a bit! Gonna be back in the 90's today!

An Old Farmer's Advice...!

My baby sis sent me this, and like the nice guy that I am...I wanted to pass it on to you!

There's a lot of wisdom in these simple sayings, and that's the truth!

An Old Farmer's Advice:

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

*Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

*Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

* You cannot unsay a cruel word.

* Every path has a few puddles.

* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.

* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

* Don't judge folks by their relatives.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.

* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

* Always drink upstream from the herd.

* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly...! Leave the rest to God!

Now, I don't know about you, but all this makes a lot of sense to me! But then, I have always understood simple ideas, presented in simple language. Guess that makes me a simple guy...but then, that's all I ever professed to be!

C'mon, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit! Headed to the 90's again today!

A Cause For Celebration...!

This following story from the Houston Chronicle is one that can't help but make me grin!

When we think we have seen a lot of trials and hard times in our lives, it would behoove us to visit with and talk to some of these folks. I can only imagine what a wealth of stories they could pass down to us...if we would only take the time to listen!

Gathering of Houston's 100-year-olds could set world record

There were more than 104,754 centenarians in the United States on Nov. 1, 2009, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Results of the 2010 Census should reveal the number of 100-year-olds in Texas down to the city level, according to the Texas State Data Center.

In the meantime, Clarewood House is hosting a celebration of centenarians from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on June 17. The Houston facility at 7400 Clarewood Drive has its own incredible number of residents who have to use all 10 fingers to count the decades of their lives.

"Celebrating a Century of Sunrises" will honor folks from across the Houston area who have three-digit ages or will turn 100 this year.

The annual "Over 90" party at Clarewood House on Aug. 21, 2009, paid special tribute to residents 100 or older. The retirement community and nursing home may have Houston's richest concentration of the super-old. On hand were centenarians Sylvia Burr, Thelma Royalty, Mary Kerley and Selma Dawson. Burr, left, died in September at 106, and Royalty, 105, passed away this month.

Area retirement homes and convalescence centers are encouraged to bring residents who belong to the centenarian club.

The United States and Japan have the largest concentrations of 100-year-olds. Centenarians are among the fastest-growing groups in the nation and worldwide, thanks to improved nutrition and health care. By 2050, the United States is expected to have 601,000 people who are at least 100 years old and there will be nearly 6 million "veterans of life" on Earth.

Because the Clarewood event could become the largest gathering of 100-year-olds in history, organizers have notified Guinness World Records. And because this rare occasion could lead to a "Hallmark moment," the nation's largest greeting card manufacturer — founded a century ago in 1910 — has been invited.

Invitations also have been extended to houses of worship, Gov. Rick Perry, Mayor Annise Parker and other dignitaries. Also asked the attend: the Boy Scouts of America — another organization celebrating its centennial this year — and Willard Scott, who continues to wish centenarians "Happy Birthday" on the air, even though he's no longer the weatherman on NBC's Today show.

Clarewood could throw a well-attended party even if guests didn't show up. At last count, six residents were at least 100 and five more are 99. (Since January, three centenarians have passed away.)

I've said this before...and I'm sure that these folks would be among the first to agree, that it isn't necessarily the quantity of your years, but instead the quality of your years that makes everything worth while!

Why not take the time to visit with an elderly friend or neighbor, just to let them know that they are not forgotten?

Who knows, someday we all might be looking forward to a visit from someone...just to tell us "Hello..."!

Now, how about some coffee on the patio this fine morning? Already in the 80's, but the roses smell great!

My Rocking Chair...A Repost !!

Last year, in the month of May, I did a post about rocking chairs and front porches.

I decided to repost it, mainly because I've been thinking about rocking chairs again! I hope you don't mind...and that you enjoy it!

I Really, Really Want One...!

This is the one thing I can think of that I really, really want!

What started me thinking again about this was a mention by Meadowlark yesterday about front porches. Now we all are familiar with front porches. Nearly all houses have one, and most all homesteads and cabins and farms and fishing shacks! All with porches!

My cabin or shack will certainly have one! Can't imagine having a cabin without one, but that's not the main thing I want. Sitting on that porch, I want a great big rocking chair!

I don't want just any rocking chair, but a chair with character, with soul! I want a rocking chair like my Grandma King's old rocking chair. Big enough to move around in, big enough to tuck your leg under ya if you wanted to! It has to be made out of wood. Probably maple or another type of wood that's good and sturdy.

Another reason it needs to be made from wood is that a rocker made from wood will, after time, get a certain sound to it. Usually the rockers themselves will develop a small, comforting squeak while rocking. That squeak, although very quiet and very diminutive, is often enough to make you nod off for a nap.

The arms need to be wide. I mean, wide and flat enough for a good book to be balanced on, wide enough for a grandchild to sit on while talking to her Grandpa...just like I did as a youngster with my Grandma King!

I have imagined that rocking chair ever since I started planning on building a cabin. I have actually seen myself coming out of the cabin after supper, sitting down in that big ole wooden rocking chair, on the front porch of a home I built myself, and gently rocking back and forth while watching the sun setting to the soft songs of the birds as they start to bed down for the evening.

I love that vision, me sitting on the porch in my great big rocking chair, feet propped up on the railing...with a cup of coffee in my hand. I love that rocking chair. I've never seen it, I've never touched it, but I love it! To me, that chair is representative of freedom. It is a symbol of what a man can do if he has a vision and remains true to that vision.

I'm a simple man. I don't ask for much out of life, just a small piece of land to call my own, with a small little shack on it that I built myself. Attached to that small cabin or shack will be a porch and on that porch, in all it's wonderful glory, will be my big ole rocking chair!

Man, I love that ole rocking chair!

Now, my friend, let's get some fresh coffee and sit on the patio a bit. Sorry, there's no rocker...

Remember The Maypole...?

Man, when I was a kid back in the dark ages...May Day was a day of dancing around the May Pole!

I can still remember the big ol' pole, all decorated with the streamers of different colors, the music playing loudly as we kids danced in a circle...half in one direction, half in the opposite!

Round and round we went, keeping time to the music and weaving around one another until that tall, brightly decorated pole was wound up tightly with the crepe paper streamers!

I never thought much about why we were doing that dance, only that we were happy to get out of class for the day! Well, after finding this history, now I know what it was all about. Thought you might find this interesting!

Ancient spring rites that related human fertility to crop fertility gave birth to most modern May Day festivities.

May 1 is the traditional day to crown the May queen, dance around the maypole, perform mummers' plays, and generally celebrate the return of spring.

Although our Pilgrim fathers were horrified by these reminders of a pagan past and outlawed all such activities, the maypole dance remains an enduring event.

In Great Britain, the custom of "bringing in the May" involves gathering "knots," or branches with buds, on the eve or early morning of May 1. In England, a favorite branch is hawthorn. In Scotland and Wales, people choose the rowan, or mountain ash. In North America, we often select forsythia, lilac, or pussy willow branches to bring spring and the prospect of new life into our homes.

Well, that's certainly more information than I ever wanted to know about the first day of May! I would be happy just remembering the good times that we had! Childhood memories are much more fun when they aren't cluttered up with all this history stuff, don't ya think?

Now, my friends, why don't we celebrate by having some fresh coffee on the patio? Maybe you can help me remember what the music we used to dance around the Maypole!