If I’m Mad, It Must Be March

Tags

cartoons, Election 2012, life in the meadow, Native Americans, right-wing insane, Sarah Palin, teabaggers, women's health issues

I’m a bit scattered.

I just realized it. Really I did.

It has to do with numerous things. March Madness has begun.

You must have noticed. MSU is #1 in the Western division.

We have run off the brackets.

. . . I’ve begun packing again. The weather is so great that we are getting an early spring, so there is no point in waiting any longer. We can get a POD delivered most any time I suspect. The lane is drying out pretty well.

The list of things to do is enormous, hence my scatteredness.

I figure I have made the last major shopping trip to town. No more fancy eatin’ for us. We must eat down as much of the freezer as possible. Haphazardly put together concoctions of frozen “stuff”.

I’ll have to stop posting recipes I guess. I hiatus until we get moved and find a house to buy, and move in and get settled. It sounds like it will take months. It probably will.

I’ll have to stop this blog for some time as well. I don’t like to think of that. Who knows what we will find at the state park we will inhabit while we house hunt? Who knows.

It makes my head hurt to think about it. Better to just dumbly plug along.

But I’m feeling light and free at the moment. I packed three boxes of dishes. I made pico de Gallo and refried beans and spicy meat. We’re having tostados for dinner.

I’m sickened by the killing in Afghanistan. I’m forced to conclude that we need to leave NOW. It’s a mess, no hope of correcting it. Just a mess.

I saw something so cool on the news Saturday I believe it was. PBS is having its festival and we are forced to the Mainstream. Anyway, this guy, in memory of his mother, who loved books, created a large mailbox sized box, placed it on a pole, stuck it at the sidewalk, and filled it with some books. All with a sign that said: Take a book, give a book. The idea is spreading. People are creating their own “mini-libraries” made from all sorts of cute stuff, and sticking them where people can get to them.

The Contrarian says he will make one and we can put it up at the end of our driveway in New Mexico. I told him he could make them and sell them as well. He’s looking for some kind of woodworking hobby to take up when we move. It’s a good idea, this mini-library thing. Think about it.

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As you may have heard, Gary Trudeau is doing a series on Doonesbury this week on the Texas sonogram law. Some papers are refusing to carry it. Juanita Jean is going to post the cartoon each day. Make sure you don’t miss it.

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So the difference between Willard and Newtzpah now is the difference between cheesy grits and shrimp ‘n grits?

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3quarksdaily has an original post by Evert Cilliers. The title says it all: The Homophobe, the Moon Colonist and the Vulture Capitalist: Why the GOP has Become a Cult Instead of a Political Party.  This is a great read, fun, informative, snarky and succinct. Read it or I’m be unhappy, and you don’t want me unhappy. Better yet, print it out, hang it on the wall, read it every day, and then go to battle.

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Speaking of 3quarksdaily, another one you might look at. It’s your culture moment. What are the worst 5 presidents? Okay, Now, ask that question from a Native American perspective. Have a clue? Betcha don’t. So go read what a professor of American Indian studies thinks. Nice history lesson. Just because you are old and long past college doesn’t mean you don’t need schooling. Get at it.

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When you are worried about your sanity, well you need a standard by which to judge your sanity. I give you the word salad of our beloved goof, Sarah Palin, spewing nonsense as only she can.

What we can glean from this is an understanding of why we are on the road that we are on. Again, it’s based on what went into his thinking, being surrounded by radicals. You could hearken back to the days before the Civil War, when too many Americans believed that not all men were created equal. It was the Civil War that began the codification of the truth that here in America, yes, we are equal and we all have equal opportunities, not based on the color of our skin. You have equal opportunity to work hard and to succeed and to embrace the opportunities, the God-given opportunities, to develop resources and work extremely hard and as I say, to succeed. Now, it has taken all these years for many Americans to understand that the gravity, that mistake that took place before the Civil War and why the Civil War had to really start changing America. What Barack Obama seems to want to do is go back before those days when we were in different classes based on income, based on color of skin. Why are we allowing our country to move backwards instead of moving forward with the understanding that as our charters of liberty spell out for us, we are all created equally?”

This refers to her belief (based on nothing) that Professor Derrick Bell was some radical. He was not, but it would be way over her head to understand what he was. (I would imagine Sarah’s little forays into English verbiage provides wonderful examples of “bad prose” used by English teachers across America. And for that she provides a service, of sorts.)

Until the rubber meets the road, the sun touches upon the horizon, and the lizard returns to under his rock, I remain your devoted blogger.  

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Missing the Point

Tags

Arizona, Broken Rainbow, editorial, greed, History, Hopi Indians, human psychology, Native Americans, Navajo Tribe, sociology, treaties, Westward expansion

Last night we watched a documentary made in 1986, in fact it won an academy award in that year for best documentary. The film is called Broken Rainbow, and it deals with the Hopi and Navajo peoples of Arizona and what was done to them by the government of the United States.

It is but an old story of abuse, one that is well known throughout the mainland of the United States. Our treatment of native peoples from start to finish has been one of utterly mind numbing abuse and horror.

What was shocking in this documentary was that the final insults occurred well within my lifetime, in fact I was in my thirties when it happened, and honestly, and with great shame, I confess I had no idea.

It’s the old story quite frankly of greed. We are reminded but again that as we rail against the confounding greed for greed’s sake that exists in Merika today on the part of mega corporations and insanely wealthy individuals, that such has always been the case. “Let them eat cake!” Marie Antoinette intoned, ( of course she didn’t really say it, but nobody knows who did) if you have any doubt about how long humanity has ignored the poor in favor of their favorite pet entertainments. And of course the courts of Herod the Great, of Ptolemy and so on provide all the evidence required.

The Hopi and Navajo were moved around as needed throughout the 1880’s, treaties written and broken at a whim. Mostly they were left to a goodly section of Arizona, felt fit for nothing, and they continued living as they always had, as herders and farmers. They took care of themselves.

Then of course things changed. Why? Because oil, natural gas, minerals and coal were found. And then they had to go. By creating “tribal councils” that rubber stamped “contracts,” they gave away all the rights to their land, receiving of the four, in no case more than 3.5 cents on the TON of the resources carried away to fuel Merika’s greed. This all happened folks in the 1970’s! And Morris Udall sits in his chair, and says, “hey, what’s the big deal? People have always had to give up homes for a new highway! This just makes them Americans like everyone else!” Yeah right.

As I said, the destruction of sacred lands, the forced removal of native peoples, and the subsequent internment of them, always on land deemed worthless, started at the beginning of this country and has continued unabated. The last changes of the reservation boundaries in Arizona,  occurred in 1996.

But I have to ask myself. Didn’t the Puritans suffer persecution in England which caused their flight to the Netherlands and then to Plymouth? Didn’t the Anglicans who settled in Virginia suffer at the hands historically of Bloody Mary? Didn’t the Irish suffer at the hands of the English? Hadn’t most of the French suffered at the hands of Inquisitors, English, and others? Is not all of European history one huge conflict of one side mistreating and taking from the other? The sides change, the winners change, but all remained the same.

We learned apparently the lesson that might makes right. We learned that to the winner goes the spoils. But having been the victim of all this at an earlier or later date, did no one question whether taking what belongs not to you is not a good thing?

All of America is made up of those who came to these shores because they were mistreated by somebody. Whether they were victims of feudal systems, or victims of conquerors, or simply of land that would not sustain a vigorous life, people came here for relief.

Yet, upon arriving, they took to enslaving, and removing anyone who stood in their way to grab the brass ring. They did it, all of them alike, with apparently no second thought, no shame, no question that they were taking things that belonged to others.

Nobody it seemed, except perhaps when they were first arrived and were extremely vulnerable, said, “may we live among you and will you share with us enough so that we can live?” As soon as we felt powerful enough, we ordered them off “our land”. Sometimes it was done in the name of God.

I just wonder where comes this mental ability to not feel guilty? We are taught today surely that stealing is a crime. People suffered for stealing it seems as far back in history as we have written record. Yet, when done in systematically, whether singularly or as a group, it is somehow okay. Land theft is somehow different when done on a massive scale.

We argued with Canada over land, perhaps neither of us having any “rights” since native people were there first, we stole land right and left from every tribe we came across, perhaps because they had no word for land ownership being that it was sacred and owned by God. Perhaps we thought they didn’t care then. We stole it from Mexico and the Spanish, who if anything were at least there first. The Mexicans surely, and the Spanish before these new things called “Americans.”

Why do we not respect the rights of others? Why have we, victimized historically with being taken advantage of, having our homes taken, our land, stand so ready and willing to do the same to those we encountered on this continent. (And of course we continued that policy in Alaska and in Hawaii as well.)

I’m just askin’ the question. I don’t know the answer.

Just sayin’.

**

You can read a review of Broken Rainbow here.

You can watch a DVD video here. The film is nearly 2 hours long.

Fumigating My Head

Tags

Apaches, Charles Grassley, dancing with the stars, evolution, faith, Geronimo, Native Americans, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, SCOTUS

Spring is a wonderful time of the year. I have more energy than usual, and I seem to get out of my normal lethargy and get motivated to do stuff. I guess that has something to do with the idea that spring seems to be a time of hope and promise. 

In the fall, it changes, it’s just depressing, with winter beckoning. I hate the stuff to prepare for it. It seems like I’m giving in, and I rebel and tend to vegetate.

So that means, I’m busy as all get out these days, and feeling pretty darn good about it. Yesterday to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I cooked up a storm. We had chicken enchiladas verdes as the main dish. I used fresh tomatilloes for the sauce. It turned out really well. I made side dishes of refried beans and Spanish rice.

I’m reading two books, one for review here, and another for our adult forum class at church. I’m doing the outdoor stuff here and there, but the Contrarian seems to be doing the bulk of that so far. I’m working on the church library, and also preparing a short talk on the recent same-sex legal opinion for another forum we are scheduling for the end of the month. Again at church. I’m also trying to read a full issue from the Anglican Theological Review on homosexuality. I’m reading a lot it seems.

I seem to be cooking a bit more extravagantly than usual for some reason. I’m trying to knit a spring shawl but probably won’t get it done until fall at the rate I’m going. I am meeting with a soul mate (spiritual buddies) and trying to keep up an e-mail conversation and not doing that very well. I’m trying to post most days, and keep up on reading blogs. I’m trying to keep my housework up and do the laundry timely. I’m trying to be a decent wife since my wonderful husband deserves that. I’m trying not to neglect the pets and remember they need personal attention every day too.

I’m just like you, but you probably have way more to do than me. Funny, I don’t feel especially stressed, just busy. Anyway, today is just bits and pieces. So lets get on with it.

We saw American Experience last night on PBS. We had taped it I think from Sunday. They are doing a multi-part series on Native Americans. We saw part four, having somehow missed the first three I guess. Hopefully we can find them in reruns later in the summer. This one was on Geronimo. It was excellent as you might expect.

Geronimo was as they pointed out, a “complex” man. Some of what he did was no doubt quite good. Some of it not so good. What was done to Native Americans in this country is simply inexcusable. Plainly. No excuse will ever be made, although plenty of explanations are given. Another oops, we lost our moral compass event. He is third from the left in the picture above, by the way.

I feel some affinity for Native peoples. There is a rumor that someone in my distant family past was married to a native woman. So I may have some genetic connection. I doubt that explains it though. I have the same sense of connection with Hispanics too. Can’t explain that either. I think it’s some spiritual resonance with the cultures.

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A few days ago, I posted a rant on why we have turned the idea around that when people do bad things to us, we have license somehow to do the same. It’s now okay, we are absolved somehow from moral responsibility for doing wrong. I ran into another couple of examples since then.

One is Charles Grassley, our Senator from Iowa. He was quite public some time ago, under the Bush administration with saying that filibuster was just wrong period. Now, with a Democratic choice to replace Souter on the SCOTUS, Grassley is claiming that the Rethugs must try it, since the “the other side did it.”

Last night in watching the thing on Geronimo, I learned that some of the first white men (and it was mostly white men) to enter the southwest (after the Spanish Conquistadores of course) were rather lawless unprincipled gold seekers, heading for California. They slaughtered Apaches in rather unspeakable ways for sport it seems. This prompted Geronimo to do the same, and this was considered by at least one Native American apologist as okay, since “the other side did it.”

So I guess things don’t change much, and that kind of thinking has been around longer than I might have thought.

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Dancing with the Stars just sucks. I’m disgusted. Last night the “voters” meaning the public who cares to vote, voted off “lil Kim.” She was one of the top three dancers to be sure. They kept the cowboy, (sorry, don’t know his name, but he’s married to Jewel if that helps). He is arguably the nicest person in the world, and has improved dramatically, but he really can’t dance. They have to revamp the voting and limit it to the two lowest from the professional judging numbers. That’s the only way its worth watching.

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It seems every day there is another joke to laugh about regarding the Republicans. Rush Limbaugh says that Sarah Palin is the  prominent and “articulate” spokesman of the party. I mean what more can one say? It seems almost wrong to state the obvious. This from a woman who looks out her window to look for Putin on the horizon. Who is made speechless by a simply question: “What magazines and newspapers do you read?” Enough said. I used to have a couple of humor sites I went to every day. Now I just gotta look for a quote from virtually any Republican to get my chuckles. Enough said.

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The Pew group runs a forum on Ethics and Public policy. It sets up a meeting every six months and has done so for decades now. A believer, and head of the genome project, and speaker at the forum,  Francis Collins has a new site you should look at called: The Biologos Foundation. It’s dedicated to “finding harmony in faith and science.” It’s more than worth taking a look at. I’ll have their blog linked under the science category on the sidebar.

Questioning Inevitability

Tags

American History, biology, Crafts, crochet, economy, energy, Flowers, Gardening, muffins, Native Americans, Oil, pasta, Raisin Bread, Sauces, vegetables, Women's history

The artist is Sebastiao Salgado. The print was done in 2004, and is called “Agashya, Mt. Sabyinyo, Rwanda.”  I thank Senor Salgado for taking this nice photo of the Contrarian and me. Just a nice stroll in the Meadow!

Another week has slid by so fast that I realize that June is quickly going by. I hardly feel that I have had a chance to enjoy it at all. It seems we are still trying to get organized. The Contrarian has done a lot of weeding in the garden, both by hand and by the little weed tiller. My lettuce is going great guns and we will probably be able to harvest some soon for salads. I’ve got the house all spiffy clean and feel rather satisfied with myself. I’ve ordered a beef brisket from the meat locker in Walker to pick up next week. I think it will be a fun 4th of July meal to make. I’m tired of the usual fare of ribs or steaks.

We are getting some sun, but it’s sporadic, and we may get some rain this afternoon. I surely hope not, we are down to mostly mud now in a few places. We can move the vehicles around with ease now. The Contrarian has weed eaten around the house pretty good and it’s at least looking a bit more lived in.

 I have to seriously think about painting the office now. I think perhaps I’ll do some tomorrow. The Contrariansincerely wants little to do with the process, and that’s fine. If he takes over, he will do it all, since he can’t stand painting, so he wants to do it all at one time. I am happy to do a bit a day until it’s done. We often find that some chores are not things we can do together, since we work quite differently. If we try to do it together, we end up snapping at each other, which is senseless to me.

Doing this craft, recipe, history etc blog post is ever so much more stressful for some reason. The feeds seem so reluctant to come up and it seems forever before I’m done. I don’t know the reason, I can only surmise that the blogging platforms that I and so many use are just not as receptive as dot com sites for whatever reason. Perhaps it’s just the pictures that are so much more prevalent on crafty blogs. I dunno, but I just go nuts sometimes wasting time, waiting!!!!

Anyway, let’s see what is what today:

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We open with A Mingling of Tastes which has an interesting side dish or main vegetarian dish, Smoky Lentils with Roasted Sweet Potatoes. I like lentils, and like lentil soup. I love Egyptian food which features lentils in many varieties with lots of different spices. This is not the type of summer dish I would make, but it would be fine in the fall or winter.

Martin’s American History Blog focuses on the industrial revolution of the 19th Century. I guess we are in some kind of new one now, though I’m not sure I can yet define what it is. A technological revolution? A world market revolution? Perhaps we should spend some time looking backward to discover how to better handle what we are going through now.

We have a cute new pattern for crochet from Sandi’s Crochet Blog. I think her patterns are so nice, and they are so easy to follow as well. She suggests that this pattern works well for a washcloth. I like making these simple and quick items for home use. They can be used, and do up in a one or two sessions quite easily.

Well this is a surprise. It seems that a major Revolutionary War relic has been located. An entire ship found in Lake Ontario! It was a British ship, called the HMS Ontario and was a 22-gun warship sunk by American forces. Read all about the find and the excitement is has engendered at American Revolution Blog.

From As the Garden Grows, we get a wonderful list of annuals and perennials that attract butterflies. We love all the hummingbirds and butterflies that come around to feed on nectar from our flowers. This is a rather extensive list, and one that is worth copying for a hard copy file for later use this fall and next spring when planting is more appropriate. Some are herbs, so you get a bonus!

Boy this recipe sure brought back some memories. Raisin Bread! Doesn’t that sound wonderful? I remember it so well from my childhood. I can’t eat a lot, because of the concentrated sugar in the dried fruit, but a slice or two, once in a while can’t hurt, and I adore her idea of using it for chicken salad sandwiches. Take a peek, it’s not hard to make. We got this recipe from Baking Delights. Remember if you have a heavy duty mixer, you can use the dough hook to do the kneeding for you! The entire process takes less than 30 minutes to get to the oven.

Oh the minute I saw this, I said, whoohoo, I’m making this! It’s a great little condiment spread for hamburgers. Hamburgers are one of my favorite meals, and truth be told, we have them usually twice a month on Friday or Saturday. I know this will be a hit with the Contrarian as well. I will of course half this recipe for the two of us. I’m thinking what other things would this be good on? Maybe some of that brisket with lots of barbecue sauce as well? Oh I think I may be on to something here. Coconut & Lime, a huge kiss from me for Chipotle Cheese Sauce. I guess it would go okay with the traditional celery sticks too.

It won’t be long before summer squash comes into it’s own. Not here of course, we have to replant, our first planting rotted out and never came up. So, under the theory that there are never too many recipes for zucchini, I found this nice one from Epicurious which makes a lovely side dish. HerbedSummer Squash and Potato Torte with Parmesan sounds like a winner to me.

We watched the Robin Williams movie “RV” the other night, and I thought it was hilarious, if quite predictable. You might enjoy Garrison Keillor‘s take on the wonderful (for some) adventure of traveling with a home behind you. Things are changing what with gas prices. This may be a relic of the past soon.

Today’s edition of History of American Women focuses on the Indian tribes of South Carolina.I am really enjoying her series here of the various tribes that were prevalent during the colonial period. and beyond. It is without question, an area of our history that most of us have not had the benefit of very much information about. I’m sure it’s better today than it was in my time in high school, but I’m sure it still neglects a lot as well. A great chance to improve our understanding of those who greeted us when we first arrived on the shores of “America.”

Oil and it’s price has become a hot button issue. It’s hard to know whom to believe, since it seems everyone has a reason to fashion an answer to support a previous opinion. Live Science has an article which may come from a more scientific point of view, and thus may actually shed some light on the true causes of the prices were are swearing at these days.

I am growing to just love these pasta roundupseach week. What interesting and tantalizing recipes I continue to find. I made the Pastitsio one earlier in the week. After a questionable start, the Contrarian gave it a thumbs up. He was utterly taken aback by cinnamon in a meat dish at first. After he got over the shock, he actually liked it. I personally didn’t think it tasted much of cinnamon so much as had the aroma. So, make sure you peruse through the offerings and find something truly delectable for dinner tonight. Once Upon a Feast is our supplier of these weekly gems.

There are many who think that a lot of science is just a waste of money. There have even been a Congress person or two and a network or two that have made it their business to inform you of scientific studies they found ludicrous and wasteful. And some may in fact be. But here’s food for thought. Scientists have long pondered exactly how pattern emerges in nature. The stripes on a zebra for instance, or the intricate pattern of a butterfly. They may be closer to an answer of figuring out how cells move around and differentiate in such a way as to form the patterns of say a spiral sea shell. And guess what? The answers may help scientists in understanding how cancer cells metastasize. So, before you decry the expenditure of funds on silly science, think again: It may some day save your life.

We are truly blessed this week. Scandalous Women has another entry for us! This one is about Elizabeth Chudleigh. Never heard of her? Neither had I frankly. But I know who she is now. And mercy me, she was scandalous, and that’s enough to peak your interest no doubt. Here’s a hint: She was the Duchess of Kingston and she was tried for bigamy in the 18th century. My oh my, that’s a new one on me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a woman being charged with that crime before.

For reasons unknown to me, there often seems a serendipitous thing going on around here. Today it seems to be Zucchini. Another recipe, this time from Simply Recipes. I think this is another definite keeper. Zucchini Muffins is both easy, tasty sounding, and something that will freeze well for use during the interminable winters of Iowa.

Tip Junkie is featuring a whole slew of crafters of varied types this week. I’ve given you the main site so you can scroll down and see if anything interests you. Most  of the items are for sale, with links to the site of the seller and probably her Etsy shop as well. Of course, just looking is fine too, and you might get inspired to think of something you would like to make yourself. I find these sites enticing to say the least. I’m trying to figure out how to carve a bit more time for crafts out of my schedule. Top priority right now is to start getting my recipe’s in order in my big 3-ring binder. Then again, I may have to add more binders! LOL.

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Famous, or not so famous last words:

I think it’s trying to communicate…

“Na, I don’t think we need to go to the hospital.”

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” — Western Union internal memo, 1876.

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” — Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

“Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy.” — Drillers whom Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist in his project to drill for oil in 1859.

“No flying machine will ever fly from New York to Paris.” — Orville Wright.

I wonder where the mother bear is.

“I eat guys like you for breakfast!” — Jeffrey Dahmer

I’m sure this isn’t the poisonous kind.

Finding the Spiritual in H2O

Tags

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?

High Fallutin’ Notions

Tags

1st Amendment, abstinence, American History, casserole, church/state, cookies, creationism, dessert, Election 2008, Gardening, GOP, Human Biology, immigration, Iowa, Iraq, Italian, James Webb, John McCain, Karl Rove, Lasagna, Media, Native Americans, Presidents, salad, science, Zoology

Called, “Street, Dresden,” this painting was done by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1908. It was undated by the painter in 1919. It is from MoMA.

On the home front, things continue with house cleaning quite well. I have all the cabinets and drawers done but for a small thin one on the other side of the stove which I use to store pot lids and cooling racks mostly. I’ve really reduced a lot of clutter in all the cupboards and hopefully it will be a much friendlier work environment. Of course it’s maddening now, since one is constantly opening the wrong door looking for something.

We also got a lot of planting done this morning. Tomatoes, lettuce, beets, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet and hot peppers are all in. Tomorrow we will do corn, beans and probably peas. Squash, summer and winter will go in later as well as chard and a few other odds and ends. Gardens always look so great at this point, clean and tidy. We have been having a lot of trouble with rabbits the last few years so we fence in the cole crops and that does help. The dogs are too lazy to chase anything much. LOL.

On to the news:

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Abby Sweets has a nicemadeleines recipe. That is just a cake-like cookie that is baked in a special formed pan. I doubt you actually need one, but they are available in most high end stores that cater to kitchen wares. This has just that lovely hint of lemon that is so very nice.

I just found this article fascinating and thought you might be interested as well. Margaret McKeehan, a young woman from the South, tells us what sex education was like in her public school. She also relates what she learned from her minister in a similar class. You might be surprised and you might get to thinking. I know I did.

Read about the Creek Civil War, part of the War of 1812 at American Presidents Blog.Andrew Jackson figures in this part of the war. The tribe itself was somewhat split as to whether it wished to drive the whites out or assimilate into their culture. After the battle of Taladaga, Jackson ended up with an orphaned child whom he adopted. It’s a fascinating story.

American Revolution Blog has a great series starting on the founding fathers and faith. I keep telling you of the book review I have to do, and in truth I have about 80% of it done, but this will give you a nice flavor of that upcoming post. He starts with Madison who perhaps was the clearest in his statements of how faith fit into the newborn government.

I’m getting my act together one day this week and making lasagna. This recipe is not what I am doing, but it sure is one that I want to keep in my hip pocket for something very different. It is Eggplant Artichoke Lasagna. A very different kind of lasagna for sure, but a lovely one too. Baking Delights gives us the recipe.

God knows I don’t know how the people of Iraq continue to exist in that hellish environment. Blue Girl, Red State has a post on what is happening to psychiatric care in Baghdad, and it is sickening. The horrifying conditions the doctors work in, the limits of care, all just make one so angry and depressed. It seems the world is full of such utter meanness these days. Has it always been so ugly? I don’t know. It seems worse now, but then again, maybe I just pay better attention.

A nice salad that I would like, and the Contrarian would not is in the offing from Epicurious. It’sAvocado Watercress Salad. I love avocados and the Contrarian does not. He would be okay with the watercress probably. I’ll make it and let him pick out the avocado. Sounds good to me.

Bruce Braley is sure making Iowa proud in his thoroughinvestigation of the Postville raids.He is turning out to be one of the real shining stars among new House members. I wish he was representing me frankly. That is juxtaposed against Latham who has yet to even make a statement from the Republican side of things. Read about his ongoing questions to ICE at Essential Estrogen.

Free Sample Forager has a few new offers. Dove Body Lotion, Mighty Dog Canned food, and Purex Detergent are offered today. Stop by and get your free samples. I must say, I get my offers usually within 3 weeks of filling out the forms, and while all are not so great, I do get one free wash, or use, so hey, over time, it’s worth the few minutes it takes to type in the info.

Dick Morris is a Clinton Admin. reject, sent packing for his sexual indiscretions. He’s hated the Clintons ever since, and is  on board  at Foxy Giggle News as a resident opinionator on political things though he is mostly brain dead. Still he is laughably funny. Inside-Out the Beltwayhas a humorous take on his latest assessment of the proposed Obama/McCain run for the White House. Read it and chuckle along.

The hook said, mind-blowing new Creature found. Well, that caused me to run up the feed quite quickly. Live Sciencehas the story.  Called Y-larvae in the young stage, scientists were able to grow them up into slug-like masses. I have no clue why that is mind-blowing. They seem like parasites, they seem creepy and I don’t like em. Nexxxt.

I heard something to the effect that Karl Rove had concocted some red state/blue state thingie and decided Hillary had a better chance against McCain than Obama. The question is why would I believe anything that came out of the mouth of that so-called genius of the GOP?  Now it seems that the Pillsbury Dough Boy has such a nice deal with Foxy OopsNewsthat nobody seems to realize that he is the errr, campaign adviser to all things McCain, and is simply using his position at Fox to further that enterprise (among other devious things no doubt). Oh well, what would you expect from Fox and Idiots anyway?  And we are learning that we can expect absolutely no morality from the Crooked Mac either. Salon has the story.

Okay, listen up you dairy farmers. You have a new method of making some extra cash. Just advertise and welcome a tour of your barns filled with all those sweet cows to pregnant women! Yep, you should be able to set a fee of say $25 a head for a tour. Okay, I have your interest now, so follow the link and learn how you too can make money without even trying. Science Daily would never steer(haha) you wrong!

This is one that makes you go “whhhaaaat?” I thought that it was against the law to mix religion and state. I wonder how one gets through university with a science degree and an education certificate and then goes this route. One in eight students in America is being taught creationism along side evolution by their teachers, all of this against the law. Read it and weep. What is worse, fake history is also being taught, the type that emanates from David Barton from Wallbuilders–disguised Christian nation stuff. This is so tiresome and so unnecessary.

Jim Webb is sure the up and coming Senator these days. Many are talking that he would be a fine Veep for Obama. The Nation has an excellent post on Senator Webb and I urge you to learn more about this guy. He’s pushing through the New GI bill and giving McCain fits over his opposition.

Ya see, the reason the surge appeared to work is that the US was busy paying off insurgents to not shoot at us.Of course that only created another problem, and of course, they knew that, but hey, they are trying to protect the GOP this election cycle so I guess all is fair in love and errrr war. Course, the expected future has arrived a bit early and it seems Iraq is full of little warlords, all making their demands, just like they do in Afghanistan. The Washington Independent has the story.

Think Progress weighs in on the Rove/Foxy dilemma in this, can you believe the chutzpah?, post onFox accusing MSNBC of blurring the lines between news and commentary. Oh my goodness, I may piddle my panties I’m laughing so hard. Read it and try to keep the tears of laughter from your eyes.

To mulch or not to mulch. I think mulches are great in flower beds, but a pain in veggie gardens, and frankly us rural folks have big gardens and good mulch is prohibitive in terms of cost. But if you have questions about it, Veggie Gardening Tips has a good discussion about it.

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“If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.” Johnny Carson

“Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein.” Joe Theisman

“I would rather be a coward than brave because people hurt you when you are brave.” E.M. Forster

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Funny signs from around the world

In a Texas funeral parlor: Ask about our layaway plan.

In a toilet: Toilet out of order. Please use floor below

In the vestry of a New England church: Will the last person to leave please see that the perpetual light is extinguished.

In the window of an Oregon general store: Why go elsewhere to be cheated, when you can come here?

Notice in a field: The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.

On a fence: Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.

On a plumber’s truck: We repair what your husband fixed.

On a Tennessee highway: Take notice: when this sign is under water, this road is impassable.

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And the oldest serving member of Congress, former Klan member Senator Robert Byrd, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. That’s got to make Hillary feel good, huh? Even the Klan guy is going, “I’m gonna go with the black guy.” Jay Leno

Oil is now $125 a barrel, a very, very high price. But if you return the barrel, you get a $2 deposit back. So that’s not so bad.

Ladies and gentlemen, President Bush is back from his trip to the Mideast. And he did accomplish one thing. He found the crystal skull. David Letterman

 John McCain is so old, he can remember when “Saturday Night Live” was actually funny. – Janice Hough, Palo Alto, Calif.

Big Brown’s trainer has admitted that he gives the horse the steroid Winstrol twice a month. That is the easy part. The hard part is getting Brown to hit away from the shift with two strikes. – Marc Ragovin, New York

Lordy Lordy, I’m Well Past Forty

Tags

American History, Archaeology, Barack Obama, Bush, creationism, crochet, dessert, Election 2008, foreign policy, fruit, God, GOP, Home decorating, ice cream, Iowa, Limericks, lobbyists, McCain, medicine, Myanmar, Native Americans, psychology, racism, science, SCOTUS, Women's history

Painting of Madam Pompadour done by Amedeo Modigliani in 1915. You can see it at the Institute of Art in Chicago.

Things are progressing well in the housecleaning venue, however it seems another full week is in the offing. I got the upper cupboards done today and the window and ledge over the sink.  It’s coming along quite nicely for the most part, but it is tedious and I really wish I had started here first. Most of the other rooms were done in a week or less, and this two-week plus monster is trying. I haven’t culled my cupboards in way too long, and at least I have a much better organization going now. That is especially important for baking. I can’t stand having to drag things out of back spaces in order to do something.

On the blogging front, things are going to slow down a bit for a couple of weeks.  We are trying to get our garden in and it’s fairly large as you might guess. Parker got a first tilling done today, and I’m going to Walker a bit later to buy tomatoes, peppers, corn, and a few other things. I have a lot of seeds for lettuce, beets, chard, spinach and a host of other things that I must address as well. So I’ll get as much done on this as possible each day and post what I have.  I really had expected I guess to have the spring cleaning done by now, such is not however the case. I still have the laundry/pantry to do yet, though I suspect that will go in one day or two.

On that note, on with today’s news:

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Abby Sweets has a lovely berry tart that turned into a parfait after the usual kitchen disaster that befalls us cooks all the time. It still looks great and sounds great and is another of those spring time recipes that make for a light but luscious dessert.

Sandi’s Crochet Blog has three offerings today, a potholder pattern, another filet crochet, and a paneled afghan pattern. All are her creations, all free to you. I especially thought the potholder was cute.  I’ve linked you to the main site so just scroll down to see them all.

If lemon bars are more to your taste and you want to do something pretty quickly, stop by A Mingling of Tastesand try her recipe. I have tried one’s similar to these and I can tell you they tame that lemon desire very well.

Britannica Blog has a good look at the issue of racism and how it is or is not playing out in this election cycle. Is it okay for African Americans to vote for Obama because he is black but not okay for white West Virginia voters to vote for Hillary because she is white? It’s a difficult and qualitatively different answer. See what you think.

This is one that has troubled me for some time, and the Contrarian pointed out that we are only one of two countries worldwide who allow it. No I don’t know the other one. Why do we allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise on the airways? Frankly, they do more to dissuade me that otherwise since the side-effects they so quickly run over are scary to the point that I would avoid the medication unless it were truly life threatening. Bill Moyers Journal weighs in on the issue.

I was shocked I tell you to read the crawl this morning and see that ANOTHER McCain campaign staffer is leaving for improper/unsavory lobbying. That makes it 5 in one week. Now, we are waiting impatiently for the end of one administration led by a dolt who picked the worst collection of numb sculls to run the government and now his hip-joined buddy McCain is embroiled in a ongoing series of questionable campaign workers who have left under suspicious circumstances. Need one say more? Blue Girl, Red State has the dope.

Ezra Klein points us to a article in the New Yorker about McCain and his philisophical or not beliefs about SCOTUS. It seems that McCain as we are wont to understand on other things, knows little, cares little, and uses this issue as a nice vehicle to pander to the right wing base he so desperately is sucking up to. If you have noticed, McCain is now using all the proper phrasing about “activist” judges which is pure nonsense in the first place. He is not a lawyer, and one doubts he has a clue about what he is talking about.

History of American Women has a great post on the Native American peoples of New York. She gives a nice overview of each tribe, of which there were eight or more. Very informative history lesson for us all.

Iowa’s own Tom Harkin has a very telling and to the point statement about John McCain and his background. Harkin finds his worldview simply well out of touch with mainstream America and suggests that he views all through a military lens. Certainly McCain has been candid about his lack of knowledge of things economic and it seems Americans are quite concerned about the economy. The Iowa Independent has the story.

It seems we can never get past the discussion about science and God. Live Science attempts to put the whole issue in some kind of perspective. Science we know deals with the observable reality. Theology deals with the supernatural. The two are not at loggerheads. They are two rather different things. I have always concluded that science will not “find” God simply because that it why it is faith. It’s a journey of spirit, not the intellect. See what you think.

Mad Kane does it again. Anyone who saw the absurd interview with Bush wherein he claims to have given up golf to show solidarity with the troops knows what I mean when I say yech. I mean how obscene can one person get? He didn’t bother to stop fishing or dancing did he? Who does he think we are? morons?

We all know of Bush’s latest case of hoof and mouth disease as he accused Obama of appeasement. That has brought down a firestorm of criticism. (Good ole John joined in on Bush’s side, God bless him). Fareed Zakariahas a post today on the subject and the disingenuous nature of the remarks. As if Dubya has not done the same thing. Zakaria asks “Whose the real Appeaser?” Or you might like to take a look at Glenn Greenwald’s take on the matter at the Salon.

The Contrarian likes to watch the House and Senate on the tube when something interesting is going on. He gets a kick out of Byrd, whom he says ranges from senility to glimpses of true brilliance if you are quick enough to catch it. He has just endorsed Obama. Given that he is from West Virginia, I’d say it’s quite telling. Read Ben Smith’s thoughts on the matter at the Politico.

A Greco-Roman Buddha? It seems that from the earliest of days, making a likeness of Buddhas was not done. Sometime after the time of Alexander the Great, it became a more acceptable thing.Rogueclassicismhas a report of early images of the Buddha having been located in Mathura.

Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte is the next installment in Scandalous Women‘s Bonaparte week. She married into the family, marrying Napoleon’s younger brother. Jerome. They met ironically at a ball given by Declaration of Independence signer, Samuel Chase. Follow the link and read more about this fascinating woman.

I am delighted to post this next link. I have only 2 years to go and peace and calm is mine. So say scientists in a report by Science Digest. Aging seems to be associated with more positive emotions than negative ones.Yippee, I can hardly wait, because this gloomy gus feeling I’ve had since winter is getting tiresome indeed. I think the Contrarian is thinking of locking me in the basement! LOL.

If you are dreaming of icy delights, and I can’t say that I am, given the temperature is not even 70, you might be interested in this recipe for Strawberry Frozen Yogurt offered by Simply Recipes. If you have tried any of her recipes you can be sure they are always the best.

A terrific new blogger by the name of Chris in DC has hit the internet. Longtime commenter on Greenwald’s blog, he has started his own and given us a great post in what is going on in the sad sad world of GOP land. His writing is snappy and his mind is above average so enjoy reading his thoughts. We welcome Inside-out the Beltway. 

It appears we are all going to do what we usually do, rant a little or a lot, and then turn our head away and pretend we’ve done all we could. Things in Myanmar continue to deteriorate,the ruling Junta continues to refuse most aid, and pretend there is no human tragedy going on. What is worse, they were warned days before the cyclone hit that it was coming and they did nothing, nothing other than of course making sure their miserable lives were secure. One Neanderthal at a forum I frequent had the unmitigated gall to suggest that it was not our problem since we had no “interest” there. I guess I should not be shocked, we have done perilously little in Darfur either. How can humanity stand by and watch this? It’s beyond me. God must weep.

I admit we watch a bit of Fox NONews as comedy. I admit that one of the most silly of the commentators around is Bill Kristol, heir apparent to the great Neo-con revolution started by pappy. I enjoy quite mightily his lousy journalism in the NYTimes. He’s made another booboo it seems. The dude cannot keep his facts straight and has been caught going oops about 3 times now in his very short tenure. Join the fun in reading Think Progress‘s cute and fun article.

Tip Junkie has a nice little post on closet reorganization, and who doesn’t need that. She’s collected a few sites you might want to take a look at and get some ideas from.

 Boy this arrived in the nick of time. Urantian Sojourn’s Saitia has a lovely piece on how to find yourself when the world just looks like a mean and glum place. I hope you spend some time reading their stuff. They have been good friends to me, generous and thoughtful, always insightful. And if that one doesn’t grab you, there are several others. These guys are wonderfully prolific. Read Terry’s fine post on racism, still alive and sadly kicking today. Or read Propagandee’s great Republican Dog Food, or get a great laugh with Michael’s post on McCain’s VP choices! I apologize that I can’t direct link, but these posts are from Friday onward and all on the front page.

Wow, this one is a surprise. Archaeologists think they have found the palace of the Queen of Sheba! Visit this fine blog and learn all the particulars about the new find in Ethiopia. Thanks to Women of History for this one.

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“When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.” Henny Youngman

“Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?”  Clarence Darrow

“It’s never just a game when you’re winning.”  George Carlin

“Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution yet.” Mae West

“Never be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century.” Dame Edna Everage

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And now for some stupid quotes:

Golden, Ripe, Boneless Bananas, 39 Cents A Pound.”
– Ad in the “Missoulian” by Orange Street Food Farm

“Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious.”
– Alan Minter, Boxer

 

“How to store your baby walker: First, remove baby.”
– Anonymous Manufacturer

“You guys line up alphabetically by height.”
– Bill Peterson, Florida State football coach

“Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season. One word and one word only: Super Bowl.”
– Bill Peterson, football coach

“The internet is a great way to get on the net.”
– Bob Dole, Republican presidential candidate

“I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada.”
– Britney Spears, Pop Singer

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Big Brown has now won the first two jewels of horse racing’s Triple Crown. UPS is the appropriate sponsor of this thoroughbred. That package you’ve been waiting for is also three years old.

The office cubicle has turned 40 years old. The unique structures have revolutionized the work environment. Now most government buildings can sleep up to four times as many employees. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.

President Bush was just in Saudi Arabia, meeting with King Abdullah. I think he gets a little confused. He kept saying, “So where’s Paula Abdul?” I don’t think he understands. Jay Leno