Tragedy in the Heartland

Tags

Humor, knitting, life in the meadow

I never throw things unless they are unbreakable. Just another example of my finely evolved brain wherein my frontals are in firm control over the reptilian aspects of my brain. The query is: “Once calmed, do I want to clean up a mess?” Better to throw pillows I think. In other words, I practice safe anger.

Okay, so I”ve set the parameters of the story I’m about to relate. It happened only hours ago, so my recall is still clear and I’ll attempt to tell the tale objectively and forthrightly.

Sunday, had gone swimmingly. (I have no idea why swimmingly suggests “going well” but it seems to, but I digress.) I had dressed and prepared for my first foray out in days.

A deep fog encompassed the meadow and I careened over the equivalent of an Alaskan interior outback terrain, (lurking Rooskies?) and escaped unscathed onto the rock road. With not much in the way of further terror, I made it to church.

Once there, I attended a fine Adult Ed class on Martin L. King, Jr., and then had the distinct honor to serve chalice during communion. Following that, I attended a quick meeting to organize part of our Lenten schedule, based on Richard Rohr’s book, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See. From there, I made my way to that ubiquitous American icon, the Walmart. (Yeah, I know ALL the reasons I shouldn’t but their prices can’t be beat, and some of us need that savings.)

I wearily packed up the Bronco with foods and other so-called sundries and made my way home. The fog returned as I neared the northern plains of Iowa, and once again, I took the luge approach to getting to the house. I’ve yet to see anyone beat my time, so the gold is probably mine.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, other than the wild bellowing/screaming of the Contrarian as the Vikings managed to beat their opponent and not get the comeuppance the Contrarian perceives they so richly deserve. We were deeply embedded in the Golden Globes (only because of Ricky Gervais mind you, who is to me, hysterical) when it happened.

I was and had actually thought that I could clearly put Sunday in the win column, but no, such was not to be the case. I was knitting on my sweater. Yes, I can see you knitters sitting up and taking notice. You have been here I am sure.

I knit slowly, not being able to understand let alone master the technique of hands on needles knitting that my friend Ruth from Visions and Revisions claims is necessary to be a fast knitter. So after some weeks of work, I had about eight inches done. As I started on the only difficult row, the notorious #15, I realized a mistake. I frowned, I recounted, I examined my purly and knitty stitches. No matter, it was on the wrong side, and would be hidden in the cable. I corrected, and moved on. Down at the next cabley area, I discovered error two, and this seemed worse. And then I realized I had made a fatal mistake (back instead of front holders) and well, doom started to descend.

I tried, I really did. I whimpered, and carefully started taking back one stitch at a time. But when you get the cable, you have to take off a series and let them slip back into normal position, and the unraveling begins, no matter how careful you are, and you swear, and sweat and cry and moan, and then it happens.

I lose my mind. Viciously I yank one needle free of all its stitches!  As I start to yank the other needle free, a howl/scream like a girl erupts from the Contrarian. “You nearly poked out my eye with that needle!” “No I did not, the point end never was at you for goodness sake!” “Yes it was, oh, I came this close to being a cyclops!”  I roll my eyes and begin pulling on the yarn, unraveling it in long strokes.

Another screech of terror from the far end of the couch.  “You nearly slashed me with that yarn!” “Are you insane? A piece of yarn cannot slash you!” “It was the end I tell you, and it sliced past me with rapier speed, like a veritable bullwhip!”  I look of recognition crosses my face. Indeed I have looked certifiable crazy directly in the face.

I rip and rip until I have a pile of yarn. “Aren’t you supposed to wind that in a ball?” the demented one asks plaintively. “I don’t care about tangles! That’s the least of my worries, ” I spit out through clenched teeth. Finally I pick up the entire mess, yarn, needles, markers, cable hooks, directions and counters and stomp to my office, where I throw the entire mess in a heap on the table.

Minutes later, I’ve recovered my senses, my calm center, and I’m ready to OM my way through the evening. “Hmmmm, now what to do,” I muse. Shall I scrap this entire pattern as being snake bit and possessed by the devil, or begin again? I can barely stand the idea of beginning again. It’s an awful pattern with a cast on of over 200 stitches, which makes the whole enterprise a tight mess in the first place.  And there is the fun of looking for another pattern.

“Well, I see a blog post in all this,” I chortle. The Contrarian harrumphs, “you nearly blinded me you know.” “Yeah, you will receive prominent mention my love, for as always you provide just the right amount of  riotous otherworldly brain dysfunction to really sell the story.” Don’t you agree?

Short Takes on the Day, 09/03/09

Tags

anniversary, astronomy, Chevron, Crafts, education, EFM, energy, exobiology, GOP, Humor, knitting, Levi Johnston, Obama, oil companies, right wing, Sarah Palin

Well, I’m about churched out, at least yakking about it for a while. I know my readership is kind of split between those that like religion posts and those that would rather not, but I’m back on more secular ground today, and we are going to hop around and see what’s afoot.

***

First on the agenda is that the Contrarian and I are celebrating ten years of wedded bliss today. That means dinner out which is about all we do. We could say we celebrate every day, but seriously we don’t lack from spending time together so it’s not that big a deal to either of us. We got a lovely card from CEC. It was lovely to be remembered.

Last night I had my first EFM class, and I came home with HOMEWORK!. Not that I didn’t expect it. I’m eagerly looking forward to this wonderful opportunity to explore the bible in even greater depth than I have so far.

Now, on to the goodies!

***

I’d describe myself as a novice but competent knitter. I have made two sweaters, both of which I still wear. I have yarn and a beginning for another, as well as a couple of other projects, and I’m getting that knitting urge once again, so I expect to start soon.

Vicki, over at knittingdragonflies, has turned me on to a totally new concept to me, the top down method. Most sweaters, as I’ve seen are started from the bottom and knitted in sections that you then piece together. This method obviously starts from the top, and I think is done in one piece. I’m interested and intrigued. If you are slip over and get your instructions. Happy crafting!

I admit, it’s been a long time since I posted a craft link! Hopefully I’ll find a tasty recipe or two as well. But you know me, I can never pass up the chance to slander a Rethug along the way, and the choices are sooooooo many!

***

As many of you already know, my point in these Short Takes is to make you the darling of the cocktail and dinner party, and the go to person at the water cooler. My goal is to give you that eclectic education that makes you look smart and so with it among your peers, and indeed makes you stand above to be admired and fawned over as the person who just knows everything.

So you probably need to know that the Kepler, as in Johannes Mission is a creation of NASA designed to find habitable worlds around distant stars. Word is that they are finding it might be possible to locate exomoons around some of those planets. So we have a double chance of finding habitable orbs in the sky. The technology hopes to allow the scientific ones the ability to detect the imperceptible wobble that occurs when a planet is pulled by both its sun and its moon.

All this is of course important because the need to transport to another world becomes increasingly attractive as the GOP continues to ramp up the craziness that has attacked them for the past twenty years or so. Sane humans may have no choice but to leave to preserve said sanity as it were. The only small problems left to address will be things like faster than light travel, and incidentals like how to create food replicators ala Star Trek. We are clear that we can’t live any kind of civilized life without them!

***

More wingbat shittery from the Rethugs and their spokesmorons. It seems that President Obama has done a piece that school districts can optionally play to their kids when they return to school. It’s all about working hard and being good students and learning some stuff. Pretty much what you would want you kids to know huh?

Not so, the right wing nut cases. No, this is “indoctrination” and right out of Maoist dogma. All the usual players are weighing in and that means you know its bunk. But no doubt they will convince their duped minions to raise the usual hue and cry.

Increasingly mainstream America looks with tired disbelief at the robotic lock-step ranting of the mostly evangelical ultra right.

But it does point up something. With only the promise and the verbal ranting on abortion and gay rights, you can convince the religious right to ignore its own self interest and vote for those who economically and politically destroy them. And better yet, the actual politicians can continue their own personal lascivious living. Getting caught means only having to say you are sorry and the devil made you do it.

***

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

This pretty much sums up my knowledge of how cars work. From toasters to nuclear power plants, if it needs electricity or runs on a motor, I prefer to think of it as magic. I work under the theory that there is only so much room in my noggin, and I don’t clutter up the space with stuff I don’t need to know. Plug it in, turn the key, work.

***

It is undoubtedly true that the way to potty train a dog is to keep it kenneled and take it out at regular intervals. The animal will not “foul” its sleeping quarters.

One might assume that oil companies, specifically Chevron,  operate on the same principle. If Ecuador is any evidence, they have fouled that country mightily with their obscene practices.

After doing their best to cast dirt on the litigants and the judge, they are prepared to accept that they are going to be held liable to the tune of 27 billion.  The people there are suffering from increases in cancer, miscarriages, birth defects and other problems.

This is of course the ugly American syndrome for which we are so famous. We screw other people in other countries for our personal benefit. Chevron, I suspect would not even have qualms about doing the same in the good ole US of A. Good reason to keep them out of the drilling business in Alaska and off shore.

***

Okay, don’t get me wrong, I’m no fan of Levi Johnston. He strikes me as a fairly vacuous human being, who hasn’t given much thought to much beyond his own nose yet in his short life.

But, given that he was the almost son-in-law of our dear Sarah (The Quitter) Palin, he remains in the news.

With competing desires to sell books and make some money, they undoubtedly will both view this feud as helpful to their respective endeavors. If they should join forces, they would only need another 3/4 of a brain to be an intact human being.

Still, if you have the desire to read about Mr. Johnston’s take on Mrs. Palin, no better place can be found than Vanity Fair, the best of the scrumptious interview mags. (I still have my copy of the one they did on Johnny Depp a month or so ago, and I’m not letting go of it anytime soon.)

No doubt half of what Levi has to say is pure bunk, but then that means half is scintillating gossipy goodies. You can pick and choose which you want to believe of course.

Which all goes to show ya that the human species is a hardy bunch. As the evidence builds that a huge portion of the US public is stone cold crazy as loonies, these two prove that life does indeed go on in the human zoo.

Until next time!

Lil Bits of Rancor or Not 8/22/08

Tags

abortion, Barack Obama, contraception, crocheting, Election 2008, ethics, farming, food, foreign affairs, GOP, groceries, Iowa, Iraq, John McCain, knitting, liberals, Media, Military, Neo-cons, Recipes, religion, Reproductive Rights, Rick Shenkman, salad, salad dressing, Women's history

A very interesting post at AlterNet. While we grouse about the McCain tactic of slash and burn Obama as his vehicle for success, the desire of the neo-cons is much more serious and permanent. Nothing less than full scale destruction of the liberal as an philisophical alternative is actually contemplated.They echo Maggie Thatcher in this. They are seriously about the business of transforming America into a land where there is no place for liberalism, in reality it will be an oligarchical state wherein business and the market place rule. Read this fascinating look at the dark side. It’s another article that will chill your soul and wonder if you live in America any more.

I haven’t watched the “debate” between McShame and Obama at the Saddleback Church yet, but I thought you might like to review this piece. Apparently John, told a story about a “cross in the dirt.” These are always stories about his POW days, days he insists he hates to talk about, before he again starts to talk about them. Anyway, apparently it is another of his made up stories. According to An Adequate Level of Plausible Deniability, anyway.  I followed his link and found this. Apparently, he likely lifted the story from Alexander Solzhenitsyn and his Gulag Archipelago. Hardly new news, Johnny seems to lift  information and alter stories quite a bit these days. He’s old what can you say? Those trying to track this story have found no mention of it on either of two occasions when you would have expected McCain to have mentioned this “deeply moving” story. I think that rat is roaming around my house again!

Copycat Restaurant Recipes has a Bennigans recipe for “Hot Bacon Dressing.” So utterly perfect for spinach it’s dangerously criminal to eat. Take a look, it’s easy to make and can be stored as well. So next Sunday, after cooking that bacon, make up some and enjoy some fresh spinach salad later!

Watch out the wingnuts in Dubya’s administration of horrors are at it again. They are trying to redefine abortion to include an contraceptive means that has the possible result of causing the termination of a pregnancy. This could include morning after pills, and IUD devices among others. This all has to do with federal funding and insurance companies, and attempts to thwart state laws that give equal access to all women to reproductive assistance. In Iowa, Gov. Culver opposes the change in definition as do Harkin, Boswell, Braley, and Loebsack. Read the full report from Essential Estrogen. This attack of course is by no means limited to Iowa, but effects some 34 states who have legislation in place that would be effected. Check what you state is doing to stop this under the table attack on a woman’s right to choose.

Go read Garrison Keillor today. Why? Well because it’s like Church, because you should. Today, it’s worth the effort to do so. I’d never steer you wrong. And have a steam bath on me!

Mike Tomasky’s Blog has an excellent post on why Republican attack ads always work better than Democratic ones. Democrats would do well to learn the sordid means by which the GOP dopes do it. And you can pick up a few character flaws about John McBush along the way, so it’s worth the linkage!

Iowans should know that according to Senator Tom Harkin, John McCain is no friend of the farmer. He says that, ” McCain voted against the 2002 farm bill and has said that if he were president today he would veto the current farm bill — one which all seven of Iowa’s federal elected officials, including three Republicans, supported.” As an embarrassed Iowa, embarrassed because we are still considered up for grabs this November, I call McCain’s position good news for Obama, and that’s good news for me. I rather suspected that the $500 shoe man with his 7-10 homes is more the elitist than Obama, and wouldn’t really know which end of a pitchfork is the business end.

On Tuesday of this week, I reviewed Rich Shenkman’s book, “Just How Stupid are We?'” Here’s a link to his blog. It appears he does his part to debunk the usual lies of the candidates and their campaigns in an attempt to keep up informed. You might want to bookmark it and check it every so often and learn the truth from the lies.

Oh, before I forget, those of you struggling with grocery prices or just fumed that it costs an arm and leg these days to shop for food period, may want to stop by this site: http://budget101.com. It has a long list of stuff you can make at home for pennies compared to buying them at the store. Mayo of course, and Bisquick substitutes. There is also a feature wherein you put in your zip and it gives you all the stores in your area and you can pick the ones you use, and then it will give you the weekly sale items. Worth a stop, there’s more stuff, but go see yourself if so interested. Coupons too!

Sr. Joan Chittister has a thoughtful post on our lying ways in our political lives and how they threaten to destroy us. No confession is good for the soul any more. We just continue the lies, believing them in the end ourselves. Many of us are bemoaning the abject absurdity of what politics has become. Voters haven’t a clue what they are doing, and one branch of government spends all its time campaigning while another imperially runs things without answering to anybody, using the big lie as a shield. Read this and well, I don’t know, get mad enough to get off your duff and write your congressman, learn what’s happening, but don’t take it any more!

Knitters and crocheters hearken! Vicki at Knitting Dragonflies linked to a wonderful site called Simple Knits. It has the most wonderful array of patterns, all grouped by amount of yarn you might have. Many of the patterns are free, and those that aren’t, are linked to where you can buy them. It looks like a huge place. So indulge and find a great pattern for that next project!

Anyone who is a regular knows that I adore Scandalous Women blog run by  Elizabeth. Today, I’m linking you to the general site, because she has two magnificent entries, one on Princess Michael of Britainand the other on one of my favorite women the notorious literary giant, Lillian Hellman. Please go read these wonderful biographies. The first is from Aug 20 and the Hellman piece is from Aug 13 I believe.

If you are interested in the people behind the Obama campaign, American Prospect has an great article that examines the “big 15” and gives you a mini biography of each. Very interesting stuff, I found.

If you are like me, you are probably just about crazed with the polls these days. All over the board and some late ones have McCain started to pull up to Obama. It can make you want to cry. Paul Hogarth in a piece at the Huffington Post, tells you not to worry, and shows you why. It’s all about money, position, and which polls to rely on. From his lips to God’s ears as they say.

Another terrific article at The Nation, this one by Robert Scheer. He wonders just how it is that Republicans and John McCain manage to get voters to vote against their own interests time and again. He explains the fallacy of McShame’s worldview and why it is so out of step with today’s reality.

If you are interested in a bit of the history of Cindy Hensley-McCain’s life and how she brought the Mac to prominence with her family’s dough, read a nice long piece at The New Republic. It’s not a muckraking piece, but is actually a fair portrait of her life and how she and Johnny came to be. A little bootlegging never hurt anyone!

Hold the presses! The Quaker Agitatorseems to have caught a little remark of McDope’s that suggest he might be willing to re-institute the draft. I would guess that might be of some interest to a few folks around the old US of A. Read more at his blog post.

You have heard about the legendary McCain temper? Well he went a bit too far the other day in calling Obama “testy.” And the DNC has hit him hard, asking “Do you really want to go down that road?” Answering with remarks from fellow Republicans, I’d guess McBush better shut up fast. I’ve read a number of these things too over the last few months. Reports of his threatening other senators on the floor, wanting to duke it out “outside.” The worst was a statement by a fellow congressman who said McCain on a negotiation in I believe Latin America, literally grabbed a foreign negotiator by the collar. I don’t think he’s stable myself but who am I to play doctor. His colleagues however, well they have a good idea wouldn’t you think? And some are quite plainly worried.

And it seems that “horizons” in Iraq have turned into “aspirational timetables” which really means that Bush is doing what Obama suggested and the Iraqis want which is SET A TIMETABLE. Wonder what oh McCain will have to say to that?

In what can only be termed as another outrageous bid for attention, McCain sincophants are running the name of General David Petraeus as a possible GOP VEEP. Petraeus to his credit said he would reject such an offer should it be made. This is after McShame had to apologize for circulating photos of himself with the general some time ago. It is considered a no-no to involve the military in any way in a political campaign. Shame on ya John–as usual your fishing for votes.

And that Angry guy from Africa is beginning to be a regular swan song here on Friday. Not his next weeks news today though. Today he takes on the huge task of making fun of us Americans!Imagine the cheek as the British would say. Link up and have a giggle as he roasts us on our own petard. Well deserved in most cases I might ad. And the bit about the medal race in the Olympics was a surprise. I din’t know dat one! Oh and the court cases–worth the price of admission alone. Oh free, I forgot. Get over there!

Okay, that finishes up all the stuff you must read if you want to be in the know this week. See ya next week with another round of tantalizing stories. I have the smartest readership in the world, cuz I said so!

Pandora’s Proximity

Tags

American History, Asian, barbecue, beef, Cajun Spices, cake, chocolate, church/state, Civil War, Crafts, crochet, evolution, faith, fundamentalism, Gardening, gay rights, health, human physiology, John McCain, knitting, leafminers, marriage, racism, religion, salad, science, tex-mex, Watergate, Women's history, Zoology

Entitled “Pategonia, Chile #5, this was done by Rene Bass Forman in 2004.

Another day with sun! Will wonders never cease? I had another of my bad dreams this morning, actually two of them together. One is the infamous pee dream. I gotta go in reality, and keep dreaming that I am having trouble finding a bathroom. It always ends up being a fairly public affair, and when I go, alas, two minutes later, I’m desperately searching for another one. That was conflated with a recurrent dream of being back in Detroit, practicing law, and I’m horridly late for a trial in progress that I have completely forgotten to return to. I woke up grumpy!

On the home front, we continue to slowly dry out. The river is down to a trickle and the Contrarian is doing some weed eating around about and burning trash. I’ve done the day’s housework–bedroom and my craft room. I’ve developed a fairly strict cleaning regime that is about the only thing that works for me. It gives me three days off a week–bedroom/craft room Tuesday, office/living room Wednesday, kitchen Thursday, bathrooms Friday. I also made a batch of Pastitsio for dinner, a Greek dish that I’ve had a lot of in the past in Detroit’s Greektown. It’s basically a meat ragu with pasta and a bechamel sauce with flavorings of Parmesan and cinnamon, and tomato paste. A nice little casserole is ready to hit the oven later on.

Let’s see what is around the internet today that sounds tasty, fun to make or just thoroughly interesting to learn about.

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For those who are as old as me, this story is well known. For younger folks, you may not know so much. Today is the anniversary of the break-in at the Watergate hotel, by five men in the employ of the White House. The coverup that followed and it’s uncovering led of course to the downfall of the Nixon presidency. Read about it at Martin’s American History Blog.

Sandi’s Crochet Blog has a lovely lacy daisy to crochet withthread. Of course you could do it with heavier weights as well. But as such it makes a nice applique to a T-Shirt or pair of jeans. It’s cute, and of course, the pattern is there for you as well.

Is McCain’s run for the presidency doomed? So say many historians, who always look at the big picture. The big picture of course means examining history and looking for parallels. They suggest that the Republican cycle is about done, and this is normal. American Presidents Blog has the story for you to ponder and agree with or not as your intellectual prowess dictates.

David Barton, mentioned here before as a fool with a penchant for spreading untruth about our founding traditions, is, according to American Revolution Blog up to his old tricks. That is, he, a exceedingly poor excuse for a historian, attempts to rewrite history to suit his motives of introducing Christianity into the public arena as THE religion of the country. Read this fine expose’ of his junk history regarding the Mayflower Compact.

I confess, I’ve never tried to cook an entire beef brisket. I’ve seen recipes that called for elaborate self-made smoking systems that require constant attention and hours of labor. Baking Delights claims that this one, done in the oven for 12 hours works perfectly well. She lays out all the particulars for you. She claims it is a true Texan perfection. Look it over, take a chance and dive in. She says it freezes just fine, because she says you must make a whole one to make it right, and they are huge. Given prices of everything these days, cheap meat is going to become increasingly welcome in our household, and I intend to make this soon.

Chocolate andhas the sublime, the incomparable, the tasting delight of  Molten Chocolate Cake for you today. Oh, I can sink into a pile of gooey ecstasy just at the mere thought of this. I’m thinking of the 4th of July for this gem.

Now for something completely different. Salad and a nice Asian one to boot. This might be a perfect foil for all manner of summer light dinners. It’s called Pickled Carrot-Cucumber Salad and comes to us from Coconut & Lime.Take a look and add to your repertoire if you so desire.

Fannie Lawrence Rickett‘s was a Civil War nurse. Civil War Womenfeatures her this week in a nice little biography. Daughter to wealthy Jamaican land owners, she later married a distant relative of her mothers who was a captain in the US army. He was badly injured during the war, and she made her way to where he was imprisoned. There she cared for him and other captured and wounded union soldiers.  Read about her life of dedication and hardship as the war progressed.

Commonweal, has an editorial entitled “Marriage, California Style” that examines the new same-sex marriage situation in that state that took effect yesterday I believe. They feel the decision is ill-advised. I do not of course. See what you think.

Steak Fajitas are a staple around the Meadow. We have them at least once a month, and sometimes two. In fact they are on the menu for later in the week, if I can get to the store and pick me up a green pepper. I thought you might like an authentic one from Epicurious today taken from Gourmet magazine. The only thing weird about this recipe is the basil, which I don’t find correct. I would change it to cilantro myself.

Free Sample Forager has a slew of new items for you. I saw cereal and acid reducer and rice, all free samples. There are a good dozen to look at and link to and acquire.

There are those in this country, and I am one of them, that fear that our respective bigotries are doing such damage to our country and our world that something must soon be done. It seem epidemic and endemic in our world. I’ll have more to say on this subject at a later date, but I urge you to take a look at this offering from History News Network, “A Passion for Overcoming Injustice has Seized America Once Again.”

Mary Towne Easty was another of those women who ended up on the wrong side of Salem religious fanatics and paid the price with her life. History of American Women, focuses on her story today and her death in 1692 at the gallows.

Serious knitters know about spinning and dying their yarn. I think it’s a fascinating idea, but know I’ll never get to that level of interest. I would love to weave as well, but know I never shall. Same for learning to play the piano. If you have this kind of serious interest, Knitting Dragonflies has some information for you. I am still puzzling over socks directions and scratching my head, thinking it doesn’t make a lot of sense with all these needles (five of them?).

Ever wondered about optical illusions? How exactly they “trick” the eye?I have, pondering how the neurons in our fabulous brains fire in exquisite synchronicity to do what they do so that we can do what we do. Well, Live Science has the answer for us. It has to do with the future, and how far we can see into it.

And if you think that only humans have the capacity to think and plan ahead, well, think again as they say. It turns out that apes and orangutans can as well, and do. But another indice of defining humanity that falls by the way side. It seems that there is less and less that separates us from our close cousins than ever we thought.

Wow, a totally awesome question this week on On Faith. Do you believe that faith affects health? Does it do so positively or negatively? Is this New Age? Lots of interesting ideas here. I think it can be both a help and a detriment. I think it depends on how you use it, and what exactly faith means to you. I’ve seen a whole plethora of people who have turned faith into mental illness, and others who have grown in vigor through quiet contemplative spiritual exercises. Read the varied approaches by the panel and delve into the comments.

Once Upon a Feast has more mouth-watering recipes to tempt you to get in that kitchen and really explore your culinary heart. I think  that Cajun Spices are a must, and it’s always better to do your own that buy that expensive packaged stuff. Also, you can wander over to the Pasta Roundup and find a ton of great dishes here. The true joy of this roundup are the pictures which are so glorious, I swear you could eat the paper and be satisfied.

Religion in American Historyhas a good one today. They feature on wingnutty Cal Thomas, popular from his idiotic featured editorials and his rightwing drivel on FoxyEntertainmentNews. Cal, using that damned if you aren’t a Christiannonsense, claims that Obama isn’t one. Why you say? Because Obama actually thinks a compassionate God doesn’t condemn 4/5 of all humanity to eternal hellfires because they haven’t had the benefit of Christianity as their source of religious training. Read the funny, but sick take by Mr. Thomas.

This recipe caught my eye at Simply Recipes. I’ve forgiven her for the Chipotle Chocolate Cake. Frankly I rather detested it, and finally threw out the last piece. i just couldn’t manage another slice. Her Tex-Mex recipe for Mexican Green Bean Salad sounded just right. We have yet to plant our beans given the lousy weather, but hope to before the end of the week. I can see making this fine offering to accompany some grilled fare.

A goodie, today we get another great post from Scandalous Women. Today she focuses on Grace Metalious, the author of that scandalous book Peyton Place!Remember the TV show? How we watched in titillation at the goings on of the families, sure that we were on the verge of naughtiness. Remember the waif thin Mia Farrow and Ryan O’Neal?  Read about Ms. Metalious’s life in all its detail. My deepest thanks to Elizabeth for her extraordinarily fine posts.

Tip Junkie is featuring a whole slew of crafters with lots of talent, and lots of stuff for sale. You might want to take a look, buy something, or get some ideas for crafting of your own. I thought there were a number of delightful products, and it certainly gave me ideas.

Veggie Gardening Tipshas an excellent post on that miserable ewww pest the leafminer. Those are those great big green sluggy things that eat the tomato plant you have been so lovingly tending in less than a day. I’ve not had much trouble with them here in Iowa, but in Michigan it seems I was always fighting them. Some great help on eradicating this beast.

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More of those wacky bumper stickers–read em here instead of rear-ending somebody trying to read them on the road!

huked on foniks werkd fer me

I am overjoyed with whelm!

I didn’t fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.

I Don’t Suffer From Insanity, I Enjoy Every Minute Of It

I Feel Like I’m Diagonally Parked In A Parallel Universe

I Got A Gun For My Wife; Best Trade I Ever Made.

I Have The Body Of A God … Buddha

I Just Got Lost In Thought. It Was Unfamiliar Territory

I left the womb for this?

I put in contacts for this?

I took a pain pill. Why are you still here?

Finding the Spiritual in H2O

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American History, chicken, Christianity, crochet, cross stitch, Gardening, health, humming bird food, knitting, Native Americans, pasta, Presidents, quilting, religion, salad, science, sewing, Women's issues, Zoology

This was an entry in the 2007 Spider Awards for black and white photography. It is by Matthew Septimus and is entitled “Ganges Bathing.”

It struck me that we are not making anything spiritual of this experience with water. Perhaps that is our failing. Another night of rain, punctuated by sump duty, laying in bed listening to it stop and then just when you felt relief that the storm had passed, the splats upon the skylights began again. This must have happened six or more times, as my grief grew deeper with each teasing interlude interrupted but again with the awful sound. The Contrarian is distressed, and he is the one who usually maintains an optimism that I cannot hold on to. I on the other hand, have made my peace in some respects, surrendering to that which I cannot change.

I think that I composed a very long essay on this experience in my head last night, but truth be told, I have no desire to set it to type today. The effort seems too much, and what hasn’t already been said after all? I remind myself that we are in our home, we have lost little but perhaps the garden, and there is no clear assurance of that. We endure because that is our humanity. Looking back, we will undoubtedly wonder how we did, but during the doing, one simply puts one foot before the other, does the next task at hand, and hopes. Hope is our eternal protection.

I made a pretty little holder for my knitting needles the other day. I guess I should try to figure out how to download and upload pictures and show you. LOL. It’s too insignificant for all that trouble. I made some chicken enchiladas for dinner. I kind of redid a recipe I found, eliminating the canned soup and replacing it with a thickened chicken broth, that I made after poaching the chicken in it. I’ll let you know how it turned out. Alas my cilantro had turned to yuck, so I saw no point in making any fresh salsa. Cilantro is the key I believe. So bottled will do.

Let’s see what crafts and recipes we can find today to brighten up the world.

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Martin’s American History Blog  gives us a nice piece on the Mayflower Compact which influenced to some degree our efforts in constructing our Constitution. Follow the link off his main page and read a most interesting story on the this most important document.

Sandi’s Crochet Blog  has a lot of new entries, so I’m sending you to the from page and you can scroll down. She offers some new patterns, a father’s day tote, a lacy edging, and directions on how to weave in the ends from all those granny squares  when you assemble the pieces. There are only 2 blog entries allowed apparently on these “about” blog platforms so go to the bottom and click on more blogs entries and I think the rest will pop up.

We all know that Thomas Jefferson  was talented as a writer and thinker. He was also an accomplished architect and designed Monticello and the University of Virginia. Read about his contribution to our architectural heritage at American Presidents Blog.

More American history and this focus is on Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Islandas a tolerant haven from the religious intolerance of Plymouth Settlement. That is the common story about Mr. Williams. American Revolution Blog has the story you might not have heard about.

Baking Delights  has her loving Saturday surfing so you can scoot over there and find lots of recipes. I saw  cupcakes, and Asparagus and Cashew Chicken, curries and Thai food, and more. I am definitely returning to check out a couple of these.

Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas  has a cute little post about what kind of gardener you are. A starter, maintainer, or finisher? I’m definitely a starter. I love to plant the darn thing, hate to weed and find it so hot when harvest time comes around because that means lots of work in a hot kitchen. Slip over and read this fun post.

History of American Women  takes a look at the Native Peoples who inhabited the area now known as New Hampshire. It was a surprise to me when I moved to Connecticut several years ago to discover such strange names for the Native American tribes. So much different to me than those I was familiar with from Michigan. And of course their dress and livelihood and housing was also different. We tend I think to think all Native people are the same, the ones we see in our old cowboy and Indian movies. Enjoy her fine post. These are simply wonderful posts and so informative.

I mean, if you want to see what a serious quilter’s stash looks like, go over to  Inspired by Antique Quilts  and be shocked! I mean wow, I have like one small shelf of hers and that’s my entire stash. I don’t know whether to feel economical or sadly behind! It’s an impressive array. One of these days, I’m gonna start a new one, I just can’t decide what! I want to do an applique, a friendship quilt, and a old fashioned nine patch. I can’t do all three at once!

First we got to figure out what kind of gardener we are, now its what kind of crafter we are. Yarn Harlot has a new book out, and Knitting dragonflies got a copy and concluded from reading that there are basically two types of crafters. Depending on which kind you are, will determine what you do I think. I’m not sure which one I am, but I think product. I think the more I think about it, it might explain a lot about me as a crafter.

Okay, quiz onwoolly mamoths! No not really, but I sure didn’t know that there were two distinct groups of them. I thought they were all the same. Live Science  has the story for you.  DNA research has uncovered a lot of new information about these cute creatures. It was long thought that humans were the cause of their demise, but it now seems that one group died out well before humans came on the scene.

I just got interrupted by the Contrarian. He’s feeling a bit more up since the garden, miraculously seems to be doing okay for the most part. He’s putting up the humming bird feeder and I of course forgot the recipe for the sugar water. So, I’m doing a google for the answer. For your information its: a 4:1 ratio 1/4 cup sugar for every cup of water. Boil the water first, and don’t add coloring.

Niki’s Ventures has a baby bib  for you to make and a link to the free pattern. Or try a bird mobile  for a crib or frankly a lot of little nooks. It’s quite inventive I thought.

On Faith has a most interesting topic this week. What does health have to do with faith? Do religions which have an integral health element in their tradition have real benefits to their followers? Mental health results? A provocative idea, with lots of panelist essays and tons of comments. I’ve joined in these discussions a couple of times, and they really are fun.

Another Pasta roundup  at Once upon a Feast. If pasta is your thing, and it sure is mine, there are quite a few entries this week. Salmon, pestos, and one I am going back for, a new Pastitsio. Having eaten in a Greek town setting for years in Detroit, I know my Greek food. The pictures are luscious too, which really is a great incentive to try some of these. There are much more than a dozen here, and they range into all the great cuisines, Asian, Italian, Greek, you name it.

I was utterly taken aback by this next post. It seems a Church has been found in modern day Jordan which may be the earliest Christian church yet found.It dates, unbelievably to the time of between 33CE and 70CE. It is said that 70 followers of Jesus took refuge there from the persecutions in Jerusalem. It sits below the Church of St. Georgeous, reputed until then to be the oldest, at the age of around 230 CE. What is not clear is whether this was a unique occurrence, or a general rule around the various preaching geography. I suspect it is the former. Rogueclassicism brings the story to you.

Well folks, I don’t exactly know what to make of this one. And before you ask, it’s not from The Onion. It’s a legitimate report from Science Daily. It simply reports that golf cart accidents are on the rise. I guess a number of comics could have a lot of fun with this. I’m not one of them alas. Okay, there are some reasonable explanations, but I’m not sharing. Read for yourself! LOL.

The Contrarian does not like curry, and frankly I adore it. My favorite is chicken salad with crunchy veggies, sunflower seeds, grapes and yes curry. Simply Recipes  has another recipe, and it is definitely going on my to-try list. Take a look at Chicken Curry Salad and see what you think.

Threads of Desire  catches us up on her latest work in cross stitch. She just inspires the heck out of me with her beautiful work. Just looking at what she’s working on gives me a lift.

Women of History  posts a look at women and rights. Focusing on Saudi Arabia in 2003 and comparing it to what is happening in Australia is most interesting. Comparing them both the American women and their rights is even more so. I doubt seriously that any gains have occurred in Saudi Arabia in the past five years. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if things have regressed.

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Some silly quotes for you:

Crazy is a relative term in my family!

Procrastinate now, don’t put it off.

“No BLOOD no foul.”

I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Borrow money from pessimists – they don’t expect it back.

The sooner you fall behind the more time you’ll have to catch up.

OK, so what’s the speed of dark?

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

I intend to live forever — so far, so good.

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

Are You Sure Where You Are?

Tags

Art, crochet, death penalty, FDA, gay rights, journalism, knitting, Military, psychology, religion, salad, salad dressing

This mural was done by Bartolommeo di Giovanni between 1490-95 in Italy. It is called “Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist.” It can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago. I guess I am constrained to recall any of these “scenes” about John.

The office is just about done. It will be finished tomorrow since there is but a small area that still needs some sorting. We’ve moved a lot of things around and it’s shaping up as a more usable room now, easier to get around in, more organized. So I’m quite pleased. When we get out I’ll get the paint and that will really make a huge difference no doubt. I’ve got spaghetti sauce on the stove ready to go. Usually I make sauce and then meatballs, but I ran out of meatballs and don’t have all the ingredients now, so I just cooked up loose ground round and added it to my usual sauce. It smells good.

I guess the weather is going to continue to be terrible. Bad rains are forecast for tomorrow and then some really cold temperatures again. The Contrarian is getting a bit depressed at this turn of events, as am I, but at some point, you just give in. It is out of my control certainly, so I just plug along with my cleaning as best I can and forget about the rest.

Let’s see what is going on today. As you all know by now, Hillary won Pennsylvania by ten points, so that race is going to go on. Although the Contrarian disagrees, I think her argument is now a good deal stronger. He has outspent her 2 or 3 to 1 and he cannot close her out. In fact, as I actually expected, she beat him by more than most were saying she would. He is having trouble in the big must win states, and I do think some are beginning to wonder.

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Sandi’s Crochet Blog has some nice patterns for you to filet crochet a monogram. Nice to do for your home, or as a gift. I think they are quite beautiful and would make a lovely wedding gift. See what you think.

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It should come as no surprise that newspapers have been losing readers in the last few years. As more and more of us turn to the TV and our computers for news, newspapers seem to be gathering dust. The stuff that passes as news on TV is a joke, and most of us know that. It seems almost the unanimous opinion that Gibson and Stephanopolous, moderators of the last debate, were just plain awful, wasting the majority of the time on matters trivial and inconsequential, and neglecting the real issues that are of concern to all of us. Newspapers and their writers were the people we turned to. They spend real time investigating and learning about an issue before they set pen to paper. We got a more thorough and thoughtful examination of the news item rather than the one minute thirty-second “high” points rendition we get on TV. Blogging has certainly pointed that out dramatically to me. Things I refer you to here, often appear on the news a day or two later. Almost invariably they barely skim the subject and the written post I link to has much more detailed and often important information. I’m at a loss what can be done, or should be done. Read Alternet‘s take on the issue.

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Blue Girl, Red State has a good post on Congress and it’s finally nailing the FDA for utter incompetence. We’ve been saying that for a long time of course, and the same pretty much applies to most if not all of our so-called “regulatory” agencies. The question is, will Congress actually do something about this state of affairs.

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Remember the Brown Derby? Feeling a bit nostalgic about Old Hollywood? Want to cook? LOL. Okay, Copycat Restaurant Recipes has one from the famous California eatery–Cobb Salad and the Old Fashioned French Dressing. I remember the old I Love Lucy, where she and Ethel and Fred went there, and well, you can imagine the trouble that ensued.

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I didn’t waste a second when I pulled up this feed. I love lemon desserts and this one looks soooo very delicious one could almost eat it off the page. Lemon Curd Mousse Cake sounds and looks divine and I’m running off the recipe now so I can be sure to get my lemons at the store when I get to shop again. I wish I lived at Epicurious‘s house, if she makes this stuff every day. Do you think?

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Essential Estrogen has a very important post today. Friday is a Day of Silence, which is being observed by many in Iowa in support of efforts to stop harassment, bullying and assault both verbal and physical on gays and lesbians in our state. You can expect the usual right wing screaming that somehow this supports an “ungodly” lifestyle. Of course it doesn’t do anything of the kind but merely speaks to our solidarity with all who stand against violence toward ANYONE. Read Lynda’s report and decide for yourself.

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Knitting Dragonflies has a great post today that you should not miss if you like to knit. She has five reader’s choice sweater patterns for you free! I’ve made two sweaters in my life, a V-neck pull over, and a cardigan with buttons and all. Both turned out wonderfully, and believe me I’m barely more than a beginner knitter. So you can do it, I promise. I’m making sure I keep track of these for this fall, and I am gonna make me another one.

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It would appear that oil painting was first invented in Asia and not Europe. Remember when the Taliban destroyed Buddhas throughout Afghanistan? Well, behind those statues that were destroyed were caves in which oil paintings were discovered. They are older by many centuries than the ones found in Europe. Read more at Live Science.

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If you caught Boston Legal last night, Alan Shore pretty much summed up my views on the death penalty. Oh how I wish it were possible to stand as he did before a facsimile of Scalia, Roberts, Alito, and Thomas and tell them to their face how hideous they are in their smug little privileged world as they legislate in their own fashion from the bench. Gilbert King offers his opinion in this NYTimes editorial.

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Another good issue is being raised by On Faith at the Washington Post: In his speech to U.S. bishops last week, Pope Benedict XVI said: “Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted . . . To the extent that religion becomes a purely private affair, it loses its very soul.” Do you agree or disagree? Why? This strikes directly at our present controversy I believe, what role should religion play in our town square? Read the panel responses and join in yourself. It’s easy to sign up to post your comments.

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Most parents have probably known this forever, but our faces really do give us away when we lie, and it’s not the usual shifty eyes, or inability to look you in the eye that tells the tale. Read this interesting report in Science Daily and learn how a new expertise is helping police tell the truth tellers from the liars. It has to do with facial muscles that we are really unable to control. Now if this gets allowed as expert testimony, a whole lot is going to be changing in the world of crime I tell ya.

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From what I hear, it’s getting pretty hard to meet those recruitment quotas these days in the good old US of A (army). I’m thinking that if you can walk, they will sign you up. Well, maybe even if you promise you will walk someday. You might want to look at this recruitment talk and see if you think it works. Undoubtedly this is close to the mark, I’m betting.

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Tip Junkie has a list of submitted tips today. It’s a pretty long list of ideas for crafts other helpful bits and pieces. Take a look and see if there is anything you fancy.

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“Historians are like deaf people who go on answering questions that no one has asked them.” Leo Tolstoy

“Sure there are dishonest men in local government. But there are dishonest men in national government too.” Richard Nixon ( I kid you not)

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Yes, dear Iowans, it’s still illegal to do the following:

Horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants in Marshalltown, Iowa.

In Dubuque any hotel in the city limits must have a water bucket and a hitching post in front of the building.

Indianola: The “Ice Cream Man” and his truck are banned.

One-armed piano players must perform for free.

Warn your hubby that after lovemaking in Ames, Iowa, he isn’t allowed to take more than three gulps of beer while lying in bed with you — or holding you in his arms.

You may shoot Native Americans if there are more than five of them on your property at any one time.

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How about the presidential campaign? I’m no political expert, but here is the problem with what the Democrats are doing. They’re spending too much time attacking one another and not enough time trying to rig the election. David Letterman

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These warnings do appear on the following products:

Liquid Plummer>> Warning: Do not reuse the bottle to store beverages

Bumps, Con’t

Tags

cross stitch, dessert, fruit, fundamentalism, geology, GOP, knitting, Mike Huckabee, neo-conservatives, Women's history

Have you heard of Madame Restell? I sure had not. Scandalous Women has nailed another one in her ongoing histories of women we mostly have never heard about. This one was reputed to be the wickedest woman in New York. Quite an accomplishment. Read all about her and find out what made her so controversial.

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Wow, it’s all I can say. Scientists at the Pole have found a “window” to the center of the earth, and boy are they discovering new things. Rocks found on the Arctic Ocean floor are the key. It offers an opportunity to study the mantle which makes up 70% of the Earth, better than ever before. It all means somehow that our geologic history is much more complicated than was thought. In a different vein, but still dealing with geology, the Grand Canyon may be older than we thought, and those darlings of museums, the dinosaurs may have taken their fair share of peeks over the edge.

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I don’t know about you, but Mikey Huckabee scared the bejeesus out of me. Such a nice acting man, and such a thoroughly idiotic mind set. I feared this was only the beginning. And true to that fear, Huck is starting his own right wing political organization. He will be making a serious try for the presidency again in 4 years, you may be sure. Be sure you know exactly what is going on. Read Talk2Action to get the scoop on the nefarious doings of the wacko right.

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This is one of those oldie recipes and I thought it was purely delightful. I love apple desserts and don’t eat many since fruits are a problem for me. I am supposed to stick to mostly the low sugar types. I find that I can eat a little of the sweeter ones, and this one is definitely on my radar. Aunt Rachel’s Apple Pudding is novel, and appealing. It may be more of a fall or winter dessert, but I doubt that will stop me from trying it. Hope you like it too.

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If you would like to see some truly beautiful cross stitch, follow the link to Threads of Desire and see her work. I can’t imagine working cross stitch on such a small count linen. Wow, its gorgeous. I’m very envious and wish someone could teach me that one. I’ve bought linen like this and despaired after looking at it of ever figuring out how to count the threads correctly.

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I’ve been impressed by just how many crafters make a lot of their beauties for charity. Here is a way you can help too, if you knit. There are links to Save the Children. I’m not sure if there are any patterns but if you hit the link on my sidebar under crafts and Knitting patterns central, you will find dozens of patterns all for free.

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I’ve been tooting around for months now here and on forums that Republicans have done an excellent job at convincing the right wing evangelicals that a vote for a Republican is a vote for all those “family values” they think they have a corner on. The hypocrisy is of course outstanding here. Have you heard about the North Mariana Islands, a US territory? The main industry is textiles and they get to avoid tariffs and can label their stuff “made in the USA.” So what has this to do with family values you ask? Women make up the bulk of the workers and they are treated as essentially slaves. What goes on there is unbelievable, forced abortions, sex trafficking, if it’s sordid it’s happening there. Jack Abramoff was their voice in Congress, and Tom Delay and friends made sure that no legislation got through Congress to impose our federal standards for wages and safety on the textile companies. This is a pattern of conduct. It’s talking the Christian game and playing an ugly, immoral alternative. It’s simply money over morality once again and the Republicans continue the big lie to the Religious Right. Vox Nova gives us all the vile facts.

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“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.” James M. Berrie

“In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Of course, a lot of controversy right now about China. During a speech, President Bush urged Chinese leaders to talk to the Dalai Lama and called him a really fine man. Cool. Yeah. Bush said: “I used to be reluctant to meet with him. Then I found out he was not a real llama.” Conan O’Brien

The pope will visit New York City next week. His Holiness would certainly fit in at a Knicks game. The fans have been known to say “Jesus Christ” a lot too.

Katie Couric may exit CBS News. A handful of people know the exact date. She only told her audience. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.

In fact, when we go to the airport do you know what F.A.A. stands for? Find another airline. Jay Leno