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Called “The Advanced Guard (the Ambush),” this piece was done by Frederic Remington in 1890. It is located at the Art Institute of Chicago. Two thoughts come to mind. I feel ambushed by the gush of water we have endured for the past twenty-four hours. I feel like I’m living on a floating flotsam of land on a sea of muck, and two, when did I start cheering for the Indians when I see pictures or movies involving Native Peoples and the Cavalry?

Oh what a holy mess. It poured buckets ALL night and the water is literally running downhill in rivers. I’m sure that we could force ourselves out if it were necessary but of course it is not, so we aren’t. We have gone from piles of snow to cold and rain for now close to six straight months with hardly a break of decent weather. It’s depressing. I fear for the garden at this point. The fact that we have a whopping two days without rain and temps in the low 80’s may save us, but I’m not sure.

The dogs are grumpy, and are stubbornly laying outside now, determined to be outside after spending way too much time indoors. My floors take a beating on days like this as 24 paws trip over the floors leaving their lovely impressions in dirty wet prints. And dogs just smell when they are wet, like old wet soggy leather. I need to make a dessert but frankly cannot get up the emotional gusto for the job. We are having hamburgers and home fries for dinner. Maybe some coleslaw, if I get up that energy! LOL. I just want to b**ch out the world today.

I’m convinced the world is nutso anyway. Dunkin Donuts cancels an ad because some wingnut on Fox Nonews thinks Rachel Ray’s scarf looks similar to the kind worn by Yasar Arafat? I mean who care what Foxthinks about anything? Has America gone mad? A Catholic priest rants like the worst kind of Telepreacher, embarrassing not only every sane Catholic but religion in general? Religion is looking awfully bad these days, no matter what type you practice. I think America is bipolar if you get my drift. I would move to a sane country if I could. I’m sick and embarrassed to be a member of this country right now. Well, let’s get to the news, it can’t be worse can it?

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Frankly the only pestos I’ve ever made were basil. I have made that several times when I had enough homegrown basil to make a big batch and freeze. This recipe from 101 Cookbooks is broccoli pesto and I thought it was a nice spring/summer type meal that can be made up quickly but elegantly as well.

This is hardly an uplifting story. It doesn’t take a big brain to conclude that global warming and pollution not only affect the air, but also our oceans. And the sad facts are that more and more “dead zones” are showing up in our seas and oceans around the world. The die off in marine life is horrid, and its not all caused by global warming either. Excessive fishing is totally changing the landscape under the waves, perhaps forever as we kill off one species after another in our greed to have it all.

I doubt that most people have any sympathy for Scotty McClellan. His allegations are undoubtedly true, and many have been saying the same for years. The problem is that Scotty’s new found attack of shame and the need to do the right thing, are well, just a tad late. But one has to admire the usual Bushite machine’s smearing of his name. It’s all been said and done before. In fact they even use the same tired excuses. In fact McClellan himself used the same excuses to smear other tell-all confessions, namely those of Richard Clarke. It is like a memo was sent out, giving the standard “talking points.”

Do you know what a nanologist is? Bet not. Feeling stitchy can tell you as well as show you some lovely stitched ones. Enjoy this little aside into embroidery fun. Your kids will love them, and weird old ladies probably will too! LOL.

Gardening Tips and Ideas has about four short reviews of new gardening books. I don’t indulge because I end up just looking at the pictures, and they generally seem awfully expensive. But many are addicted to cookbooks and gardening and crafting ones, so if you are, slip over and see if anything inspires you.

Here is a book many will be happy to spend some bucks on. Gracious Acres brings us the story of a small town guy who snapped pictures of life in Ridgeway Iowa for 60 years and never could even afford to print them. They finally have been and are collected in a book called, “Sunday Afternoon on the Porch” and are published by Iowa University Press. Make sure you take a look.

History of American Women continues to bring us stories of women charged with witchcraft in our colonial history. Today she focuses onSarah Averill Wildes. She was accused first by the sister of her husband’s first wife, then deceased. Eventually she was arrested in a sweep that included eight others and that spread from Salem to outlying towns. She was tried, convicted and then hung on July 19, 1896.

The Iowa Independenthas another profile of a Democrat running for that 4th district House seat currently held by Republican Latham. Read about Becky Greenwald and her rather impressive endorsements as she runs to win the nomination.

Inspired by Antique Quilts has some links to her favorite antique quilt makers. They are definitely not cheap but oh they are beautiful. It is delightful just to look at them. Do so if you need a visual pick-me-up today.

Jeannelle at Midlife by Farmlight has a uplifting story about how her son’s football team went to Parkersburg to help out in the tornado relief effort. The additional rain last night I’m sure did nothing to help matters a  bit. My thoughts continue to be with those people ravaged by the tornado and it’s aftermath. I cannot fathom the sense of loss people must be feeling and the strange out-of-body feeling it must engender.

Once Upon a Feast has a presto pasta roundup of recipes from around the net. If you can’t find one you like out of this array, then you don’t know pasta! LOL. I found more than a few that I would like to try. Pictures of each are a bonus along with the links to all the recipes.

McCain has made a point of appearinig to promote policies designed to stem global warming and aid our worn environment. Course, as many  of us suspected, it more talk than anything else. He misses the votes in Congress when they come up and fails to support the best bills, instead favoring those that are more in line with the Bushite desires. The Mav is a skunk it seems smelling up the biosphere with the usual rhetoric sans action.

I don’t know about you, but the Contrarian and I never miss an episode of either the Daily Show or The Cobert Report. We get some of the finest biting commentary on the news from them, something not available in the mainstream. It continues to amaze me how very influential they are becoming, and Steven’s “Cobert Nation” seems willing and able to do just about anything asked of them. The Salon offers a great little post on the influence of the satirists on politics.

Do you shuffle when you walk? Why if so, you are but doing as our ancestors may have done. Researchers claim that it is possible that bipedalism began with a shuffling motion designed to conserve metabolic energy. Okay, makes sense to me. Read about it at Science Digest.

This is an atypical recipe for me, but one I think I will give a go to. It’s called Pork Mango Picadillo and is a Caribbean treat. I think it would make a fine addition to any “international” dinner plan. Sounds great to me. Since it’s from Simply Recipes, you know it will be a fantastic one.

John McCain has made claims that while he disagrees a good deal about how the war in Iraq was prosecuted, he sees no alternative now since we are there, than to finish the job. But do his earlier pronouncements equal this new stance? The Nation in a well researched report, suggests the answer is a resounding NO, and that McCain has supported and echoed the Administration line from start to well, finished it still is not. Read about what he ACTUALLY SAID throughout the war years and make up your own mind.

I must say this little post just made me laugh. Bush doesn’t intend to read Scotty’s book! Is this a joke? Does he read any book? Too too funny and just the knee slapper I needed today.

Veggie Gardening Tips has some ideas about growing heirloom tomatoes. I’ve done a lot of this, mostly growing from seed. They have done okay for the most part, but remember, most of these plants are very much more susceptible to disease, and if you put up a lot like I do, you learn to appreciate the nice round blemish free tomatoes from the more modern hybrids. But for pure pleasure eating, the heirlooms are wonderful.

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“There’s an old saying about those who forget history. I don’t remember it, but it’s good.” Stephen Colbert

“Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act.” Truman Capote

“I’m living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart.” e.e. cummings

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Just dumb things said:

I think the team that wins Game 5 will win the series. Unless we lose Game 5.”
– Charles Barkley, NBA Basketball Player

“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.”
– Charles De Gaulle, former French President

“Most lies about blondes are false.”
– Cincinnati Times-Star, headline

“If you give a person a fish, they’ll fish for a day. But if you train a person to fish, they’ll fish for a lifetime.”
– Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President

It’s time for the human race to enter the solar system!”
– Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President on the concept of a manned mission to Mars

“I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.”
– Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President

“Sit by the homely girl, you’ll look better by comparison.”
– Debra Maffett, Miss America 1983

“We don’t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out.”
– Decca Records Rejecting the Beatles, in 1962

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John McCain repeated his assertion that Barack Obama should visit Iraq to really learn about the country. When asked for how long, Senator McCain replied a three- or four-year tour of duty should take care of it.

New York Governor David Patterson has announced that the state will begin to back same-sex marriages from elsewhere. Rudy Giuliani immediately countered with the argument that marriage should be between a man and a woman, and then another woman, and then the other woman.— Janice Hough, Palo Alto, Calif.

NASA says the toilet on the international space station is clogged. Until now, what’s always been the worst problem for restroom facilities in zero gravity? Remembering to keep the lid down. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.