Breezes Blowing Through My Mind

Tags

abortion, Archaeology, astronomy, cake, candy, casserole, Catholicism, death penalty, education, fundamentalism, Gardening, home, Iraq, Italian, pasta, religion

“Nympheas” is obviously one of Claude Monet’s “waterlily” pieces. It was done 1916-1919. It can be found at Musee Marmottan, in Paris. He is one of my favorite painters.

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It’s windy as heck today, but warm, and I cannot remember the last time I said that! I got a good deal done on my office/craft room, mostly thanks to the Contrarian who helped me move a few pieces of furniture around. Now I have a nice trestle table to cut material on.

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So it’s getting late, and we better get on with it if we are to finish today.

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Have you ever wondered which civil war general you were most like? Honestly, no. LOL. But if you have spent many a sleepless night pondering this burning question, relief is only a click or two away. The American Presidents Blog has a little link to a quiz you can take and get the answer.

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American Revolution Blog has a review of a book that looks quite interesting. It’s the personal history of one average women in America during the revolutionary period, with plenty of information of what was going on during that time in our young country. See if you like A Midwife’s Tale.

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A tip from Begging for Bargains. Stop by Saturday at Walmart and pick up a free re-usable grocery bag.

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Since I’ve been boring you for a few weeks now with tales of my cleaning projects, I thought I’d bring you some more information, aimed, no doubt, at making you feel so guilty that you feel compelled to join in the agony of house cleansing. Read a good post with some good ideas from Britannica Blog.

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You should definitely go over to C’est La Vie and read her account about her “visit with John Paul II” some years ago. It is most provocative, most spooky, and in the end, touching. I’ll not spoil it for you, but I do encourage you to drop by and read her account.

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Civil War Women has another Civil War nurse she is featuring today. Her posts are always jammed with facts, so don’t miss this installment about Emily-Elizabeth Parsons today. Reclaiming American women’s history, one post at a time!

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Sally’s Gardening Tips has some, errr, tips on indoor house plants. I’ve managed to collect a good few, and after the summer outside, they are getting to be monsters I tell you. She goes through some of the more common ones that are easy to acquire, and gives you plenty of information on taking care of them properly.

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I’m doing Italian today, with some left over chicken breasts that I roasted. Got some leftover spaghetti sauce, and I’ll jazz it up a bit with some cheese and olives. Put it over fettuccine I think. Epicurious has a nice little recipe for White Lasagna with Parmigiano Besciamella. This recipe comes from Gourmet so you know it will be a good one.

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Essential Estrogen traces the subject of abortion through television shows over the years. It was a fascinating read to me. I had not thought much about how television responded to our national debate on the issue of women’s reproductive rights. There were and are plenty of political repercussions to the decisions of various networks to push the envelope so to speak on this issue. See what you think.

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Garrison Keillor weighs in on the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines. Seems Mr. Keillor and Minnesota have a long and poignant history with Northwest. His stuff is always lovely I think, and worth a chuckle if seldom a guffaw. I think some days are just chuckle days don’t you?

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The History News Network has a chilling post on the death penalty. It was posted before today’s announced decision that has declared, unfortunately, that lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment. In any event, before the case just decided, the most important case on this particular aspect was one involving one Willie Francis. Read all about this god-awful case in Gilbert King’s well-done post.

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If you listen really carefully you can sometimes hear it. That mysterious, ethereal melody that haunts your dreams? Well, maybe not, but the earth does in fact sing, and its a lovely symphony we are told. Read about its possible causes at Live Science. It seems kinda nice knowing our little ball of blue is so happy. Hum a happy tune and know that you are one with Mother Earth.

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Just what does it mean to be a university or college and Catholic? It is expected that Pope Benedict’s address to Catholic university presidents at Notre Dame will help to answer that question. There has been a good deal of debate on this issue, mostly within the Catholic world. The right wing is appalled as usual with any teaching that strays one whit from the narrow confines of dogma. The vast majority of Catholics don’t think about it at all. Read an Op-Ed piece at the NYTimes and see what all the flap is about.

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Kevin Drum from Political Animal has a concise little post about an interview that Martha Raddadz had with George the other day, in which he admitted that he had not told the truth about the war goings on in Iraq. This lying was done, he claims for good reasons. See if you agree with George or with Kevin. I’m thinking that as an adult I’d rather have the truth.

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What Hath Got Wrought: The Transformation of America 1815-1848, by David Walker has won the Pulitzer prize for 2008. So reports Religion in America. You can read a bit about the book and decide whether to add it to your reading list for the summer. Sounds like a good one to me.

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If you remember history at all, you probably know that Philippi is an important site. St. Paul preached there, and the forces that killed Julius Caesar were finally defeated there. That’s just a couple of several other important things that occurred in that area. Read about what the archaeologists are uncovering there at Rogueclassicism.

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I would run somewhere to hide, but danged if I can figure out where in the heck to run to. It seems that our galaxy’s central black hole has flared in the last 300 hundred years. The giant seems a bit restless and I don’t know what to do next. Find out more at Science Daily.

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Wednesday is Fundamentalist day at the American Propect. Read Susan Posner’s excellent scoop on what nefarious goings on are brewing among the religious right in this country. It’s a weekly stop for me. Hope it is for you.

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I don’t think I’ve ever seen this chain in Iowa. Macaroni Grill, but I sure like the looks of this recipe so, dig in. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cake sounds like to die for as they say. Oh, yeah, this one is sure to please anyone who is a peanut butter fanatic, and that would be me.

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Been looking all over the web for a recipe for butter mints? Well sure you have. At Uncommon Artistic Endeavors, she gives you the recipe and how she used them for a baby shower. Cute idea I thought, and well, you can use them for any number of occasions when a mint is just the right thing. Okay, I’m stretching. Just thought you might like to take a look. PS, they are quite simple.

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One of the reasons given by those who want to lock the doors to America against the “flood” of illegals, is that they don’t pay taxes. Not so says Vox Nova and presents a case that in fact immigrants may be paying way more than their share. I’ve skipped to the actual source for your convenience.

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“They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.”
Emily Dickenson

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“The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” Voltaire

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“A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.” H.L. Mencken

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Two major airlines, Delta and Northwest, have announced they’ll merge to form the world’s largest airline. But I don’t know about their new company name. They’ve merged to form DethWest, which to me has a negative connotation. Jimmy Kimmel

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John McCain apologized today after it was revealed that some the “McCain family recipes” posted on his Web site were actually plagiarized from the Food Network. I am amazed. How many different recipes can there be for prunes and creamed corn? Chris Ferguson

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Although I don’t think President Bush is too familiar with the Catholic religion. There was one awkward moment when President Bush kept looking behind the Pope going, “So where’s Mrs. Pope?” Jay Leno

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President Bush also told the Pope that he has prayed every single day since he became president. Hey, since Bush became president, we’ve all prayed every single day. Jay Leno

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The Pope will visit President Bush in the White House. Talk about different leaders. One speaks almost no English and thinks he’s God’s emissary. The other is the head of the Catholic Church. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.

It’s Going to be a Bumpy Ride

Tags

abortion, African Americans, candy, cookies, dessert, evolution, fundamentalism, Gardening, GOP, health, John McCain, quilting, religion, Women's issues, world history

The artist is Zubaren and the piece is entitled, “St. Casilda.”

It can be found at El Prado in Madrid. It was painted in the time of 1638-42. It is religious in nature but the artist used presumably a friend as model. The dress is current to the day.

St. Casilda was daughter to the Muslim king of Toledo and carried bread to the to captured Christians. Once caught, the bread hidden in her skirts when unwrapped, had been turned into roses.

Well the rains seems mostly gone, and its soggy as you might expect. It’s also gloomy and dark which is starting to wear on me for sure. I suffer to a degree from SAD. I got a start on my poor craft room. What a mess. You see, we stopped taking extraneous things to the basement, because it tends to be damp, so my room got to be the receptacle of everything that needed saving. I moved out 2 towers and one monitor and 3 keyboards! Some of it still works I guess, but frankly I think it should all be pitched. It’s all piled in the kitchen. The Contrarian can decide if he wants to keep it. With that stuff out of the way, I got a fair amount put away, though I am torn about whether I should systematically clean every drawer. Crafting makes for lots and lots of tiny little “things.” Since I craft as eclectically as I think, I have bits of this and that, beads, boxes, ribbon, fabric, wooden doohickies, you name it. I dread going through everything and trying to put everything into some order. I know I have to eventually, I’m just not sure it’s a good thing to do now. Afraid I’ll get bogged down and not keep moving on to other rooms. I have a bad tendency to dump stuff into hidy holes to get it out of sight. Such is the state of my office/crafter room.

Let’s see what you need to know to get through the weekend!

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Ceres is both a asteroid and a goddess. As a goddess, she is Roman, the equivalent of Demeter, the Greek goddess. We really should be worshiping her in Iowa here, since she is the goddess of grain, and we get the name cereal from her. Read more at Ancient History Blog.

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I simply found this post intriguing and useful in improving my understanding of the evangelical right. No one can peruse this blog for long without realizing that I have a “thing” when it comes to the reactionary right. Most of that has dealt with politics and their attempts to restructure our country along their version of “Christian” life. This post addresses how this right wing sees itself in terms of family life and child rearing. It’s quite fascinating and you just might learn a few things. I think of myself as fairly knowledgeable when it comes to this subject, and I know I learned a few new things. Actually, some of it is quite chilling.

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I’ve never heard of these cookies. Maybe you have. The recipe seems simple enough. Give them a try. I think I will, after we finish the yummy cinnabuns I made yesterday. Thanks to Baking Delights for this lovely little cookie. They are called Berger Cookies.

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Want to make your own candy bars? How about a Baby Ruth? Copycat Restaurant Recipes has the recipe for you. I think I might be a tad too lazy for this one.

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This recipe is unusual. It’s fancy and perfect for an important dinner. Phyllo dough is required but you can get that at most supermarkets these days. I think it’s absolutely lovely and light and I’m rather anxious to give this one a try. It’s called Strawberry Cheesecake Cookie Stacks, and is from the ever wonderful Epicurious.

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Mother’s Day will be coming along soon, and this might be a nice gift to give. Also nice for any number of other occasions when a small personal gift is appropriate. Feeling stitchy has a pattern and a link to a tutorial to help you along. Make these sachets for lasting pleasure.

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Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas has some useful help if you have azaleas or want to plant some this season. They are an old garden standard and I like them a lot. I don’t have any, nor rhododendrons either for that matter.

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If you need inspiration, inspired by antique quilts will always help you out. Look at her lovely quilt that she has just finished. How do these folks do it? Turning out quilts in a couple of weeks, and it takes me months to get one even ready for hand quilting. I just love this one.

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I don’t pretend to know how they know, but they say they know, and I know I should know better, but know that I can’t know beyond what they claim they know. Got that? Scientists claim that the first animal life on this planet was way more complex than they thought. It was a jelly fish type thing. Have you seen some of these? I’ve seen film of some at great depths and they are florescent and colorful and so unworldly as to mesmerize one. Check out the Comb Jelly, which is fairly drab but still, it was your great-great to the nth power daddy.

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Oh you have watched Casablanca no doubt? Or you think you have. I bet you missed the ending. I mean the ending after the ending. Confused? Let Jeannelle set you straight at Midlife by Farmlight. Seems a couple of visitors told her the balance of the story very few of us have heard. You will be the talk of the cocktail parties when you wow them with this version!

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Okay, got your helmet firmly on and your oxygen mask tight? We are entering the twilight zone and next stop is weirdo world, home of folks who contribute to the National Review and the bunch of crazies who inhabit it. So up is now down, left is right, and inside is outside. Ready? Seems Thomas Sowell, black person, has determined how the GOP can capture the black vote. Not just any black vote, but that undefined part that they can win. Not the part the Democrats can get, it’s some other part. Think Alan Keyes I guess. Appeal to them on the level of no teacher’s unions, no environmental laws, no tort lawyers, no liberal judges. Apparently African Americans don’t like these things. Huh? There is some convoluted rationalism here that is beyond me. But as Mr. Sowell says, this is only for the blacks that Republicans “can realistically reach.” I guess this must be the 1/4 of 1% who are mentally disturbed. Mr. Sowell should thank God every night that he has a job.

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One of my pet peeves is universal health care. It’s a crime that we don’t have it. Most of the modern democracies in the world do. It is simply morally reprehensible that we operate on the idea that those that are lucky and have insurance through work or because they are wealthy and can afford it get what they want, the rest of us should suffer and die in silence. That is one of the reasons I continue to support Hillary Clinton. Paul Krugman has a good post on the matter, one I urge you to read. Twenty-seven thousand deaths per year stand silently asking us for an answer.

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Deepak Chopra is a spiritual guide for me. I have read a number of his books and find his work thoughtful, loving, inclusive, and deeply moving. He poses a compelling question for us today at On Faith, forum at the Washington Post and Newsweek. He claims the “Ecumenical Age may be Past.” Read what other readers think and join in the conversation if so motivated.

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If you think you might like to find out where John McCain stands on women’s reproductive rights, then I have the post for you. It goes way beyond his determination (arrived at late no doubt in an attempt to keep that religious right in tow) to reverse Roe v Wade. It goes way beyond that, and some women who are anti-choice even say he is way out of touch with the real world. See what you think.

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