Green Thumb Sunday

Green Thumb Sunday



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My photo this week for Green Thumb Sunday is a photo of the lavender that grows in my side flower garden. My oldest grandson, Brandon, who has the green thumb in the family, planted it about four years ago. It did well the first year and the second year it tried taking over my garden. The next spring I pulled most of it out and by fall, it had spread to take over the entire end of the flower bed. It continues to grow there and every spring I cut it back and remove more than half of it.

Each year it spreads to take over that end of the garden. Each fall I gather the lavender and dry it. I place it around my house and in my drawers to keep the house smelling nice. It is a lovely plant and one that I cherish. My grandson was only eight when he planted it. He's always had a green thumb since he was old enough to help in the garden. He seems to have a natural ability for making things grow.

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Free Candle Giveaway

Heather at Home and Garden Party is giving away a free candle. Heather does this Once a Month. The contest begins on the first of the month and closes on the last Monday of the month, so you still have time to get your name in for this month's draw. Just follow the link, read the rules and get in on the fun.

Let's Have Some Fun

First of all, before we have a bit of fun with some October Trivia and I share one of Grandma's recipes with all of you, I would like to say thank you to each of you who visits and uplifts me each day. I love each and every one of you.






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I have always been interested in facts about October. I'm not sure why, except that I love autumn and October is also the month my birthday falls in. On top of those things, the end of October brings a fun day for kids around the globe - Halloween.

October Trivia

*Christopher Columbus discovered America on October 12, which is my birthday.

* October 24th is United Nations Day.

* The Cosmos is October's flower.

* John Keats was born on October 31st.

* Houdini died on October 31st, which is now known as National Magic Day in his honor.

* October was the eighth month of the ancient Roman calendar.

* Columbus Day was officially celebrated for the first time in New York City in October 1792.

* Noah Webster of Webster's Dictionary fame celebrated his birthday on October 16th.

* October was Winmonath or wine month in ancient England.

* Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October. Canadian pioneers celebrated when the harvest was in and, at that time, it was much earlier than it is today.

* The American flag was first raised over Alaska on October 18, 1867, the same year that Canada officially became a country.

* The full moon in October is known as the Hunter's Moon. In 2007, we also had a Blue Moon. A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same month.

* The United Nations charter was signed on October 24, 1945. * October was the birthday month of seven US Presidents - President Jimmy Carter, President Dwight Eisenhower, John Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Teddy Roosevelt and Chester Arthur.

* In the US, October is Children's Safety Internet Month among others. Please monitor your child's activity when he/she is online no matter where you live.

* Canada celebrated National School Safety week from October 17th to the 23rd in 2007.

Grandma's Cake Doughnut Recipe

Ingredients:

* 1 cup white sugar

* 1/4 cup butter.

* 2 eggs.

* 2 cups flour.

* 3/4 cup milk.

* pinch of salt.

* 4 teaspoons baking powder.

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

* 1 lb. shortening for frying. (Can be substitued with 1 quart of cooking oil)

Method

* Place baking powder, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl and set aside for later use.

* Cream butter in a large mixing bowl and add sugar and eggs. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.

* Add vanilla and milk. Stir until well mixed.

* Slowly add flour mixture, stirring constantly until dough is thick and pasty.

* Use hands to form ball.

* Cover with tea towel ( plastic wrap or waxed paper can be used today) and chill for an hour.

* Flour pastry board lightly and roll dough with rolling pin to 1/4 inch thick.

* Cut with doughnut cutter.

* Heat shortening or oil in large pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until oil sizzles when a drop of cold water is dropped into it.

* Drop doughnuts carefully into oil.

* Cook until golden brown and then turn with a fork.

* When doughnuts are completely golden, remove from grease and drain well.

* Roll in confectioner's sugar (icing sugar) or white sugar is desired. White sugar may be colored using food coloring for special holidays and events.

A Great Giveaway: Win a Wiggy's Sleeping Bag

There's a great giveaway going on over a Patriot's blog, Made in the USA. Wiggy's, the only sleeping bag manufacturer in the US is giving away a Super Light Sleeping Bag worth $175. Stop by Patriot's blog, read the rules and enter to win. Just click on Patriot's name for easy access.

Show and Tell Friday

Kelli at There's No Place Like Home is hosting Show and Tell Friday. If you would like to participate, just click on the name of her website for instructions.

Today I would like to show you some of my postcard collection. I started this collection way back in 1979. Though I haven't added to it for many years, I still enjoy looking through the cards every once in a while

I have hundreds of others but chose these because they are some are my favorites and because some are autumn and Halloween, which is the current season. I may share some of the Christmas postcards with you another time.

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If you want to save money this Halloween, here is Grandma's recipe for lollipops. She most often made butterscotch, but you can make any flavor you wish.

Ingredients:

* White sugar.

* Cream of tartar.

* Flavoring of your choice.

* Vegetable dye. (Today you would use food coloring)

* Water.

Method

* Mix 2 cups white sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar together in a saucepan.

* Add 2/3 cup of water.

* Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

* Boil mixture until a drop of the candy hardens when put into cold water.

* Remove saucepan from heat.

* Add dye and flavoring.

* Pour mixture into buttered lollipop molds.

* When mixture is partially cool, push wooden sticks into the center of the candy.

Note: Lollipop molds can be purchased at any store that sells candy making supplies. Orange or black lollipops are great for Halloween.

When candy has cooled overnight, wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon or a bit of raffia. Enjoy!

A Sweet Treat from Joan and Violetlady

I would like to thank Joan and Violetlady for presenting me with this Sweet Treat Award. I'm honored. I'm so glad you enjoy my postings.

I would like to pass this on to the following people:

Willow at Willow's Cottage

Philip at Tossing Pebbles in the Stream

Grams at Talk to Grams

Granny at Roc Rebel Granny's

Sharon at Sit With Me Awhile

These are some of the blogs that I visit daily and I wish I could give it to everyone that is deserving. However, when I pass along awards, I try to keep it to five. Thanks to all of you for uplifting me with your lovely posts.

Thankful Thursday

Today I will post ten things that I am thankful for. This has been quite a week, but we have to count our blessings. You know the old song. "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done."

So, keeping that in mind, this is what I'm thankful for today:

1. The fact that my friend, Elmer, a WWII veteran, passed away quietly. He is no longer in pain or bedridden. He is HOME.

2. Being able to get together with my sister for coffee. We aren't able to get together often.

3. A new element for my oven. It hasn't worked all summer and it was very inconvenient.

4. The BBQ that cooked our meals during the summer months when the oven wasn't working.

5. That my husband's sleep apnea machine was replaced free of charge. They're very expensive.

6. Neighbors, even when they are noisy and/or nosey.

7. The lady who I meet on the street when I'm walking Meeko (my Alaskan Malamute.) Though she doesn't have much and finds life difficult, she always has a smile for me and a pat for Meeko. He loves her.

8. A grandmother who was very wise and taught me how to cope with the difficulties of life. She also taught me never to say never. She always said if you say you'll never do something that is exactly what you will do. She was right.

9. My computer. My online friends touch my heart and brighten my life on a daily basis.

10. Babies. My great-nephew, Griffyn, makes my heart soar with his tinkling laugh and his oohs and awws. He's beautiful and truly a gift from God. He is a miracle baby. My niece was never to have children. He's adorable.

For all things in my life, I am thankful.

Thankful Thursday is hosted by Crystal. If you would like to participate, click here.

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Last week I promised someone that I would post a recipe. My apologies for being late.

Fried Apples

Ingredients

8 cooking apples (Grandma always used spies, but I know they're not available everywhere.)

2 tablespoons butter.

1/4 cup brown sugar.

Sprinkle of nutmeg

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Method

Melt butter in cast iron skillet

Add apples, brown sugar and spices. (You can add more cinnamon and nutmeg if desired.)

Cook on low-medium heat until apples are tender.

Serve hot.

These are delicious. Grandma sometimes served them for breakfast and at others for the evening meal. Keep in mind that we didn't have apples all year 'round. We picked them in the fall and used them or stored them, but they didn't always stay good until spring. Grandma didn't have a freezer. She either preserved them by canning or drying or placed them in the root cellar and covered them with straw.

The Computer Swallowed Grandma

This must be the day for emails that catch my attention. I usually don't bother much with these, but I got a real laugh out of this one.

The computer swallowed Grandma.

Yes, honestly it's true.

She pressed 'control' and 'enter'

And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely!

The thought just makes me squirm.

She must have caught a virus

Or been eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin

And files of every kind;

I've even used the Internet,

But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves

My searches to refine.

The reply from him was negative,

Not a thing was found 'online'.

So, if inside your 'Inbox',

My Grandma you should see;

Please 'Copy', 'Scan' and 'Paste' her

And send her back to me !

(Author Unknown)

This was sent to me in an email. I thought it was cute. Thanks, Bertha.

From one pumpkin to another!!!!!!

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"

The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin."? God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.? Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.? Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Woman to Woman: Dealing with Grief

"Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life." - Albert Einstein

This basically reflects my opinion on death. Recently my oldest grandson was asking questions about death. I told him that we all are afraid to die. I explained that death is a part of life... we are born, we grow into adulthood, we raise a family if we chose to, we grow old and we die. I referred to flowers that come to life in spring and die in the fall - the circle of life. Everything has a time to live and a time to die. I told him that as long as he remembers me and tells his children and grandchildren about me, I will continue to live in their hearts.

There is definitely a process to grieving. When Dad died suddenly in 1981, I began the grieving process with denial. I had seen him just a couple of hours earlier and he seemed to be fine. Then it was as if the world was surreal - nothing was the same. It would never be the same again and it never has been.

When we went to the funeral home, I insisted that Dad have an oak casket. He had always said that was what he wanted and that's what I wanted him to have. Dad loved wood, especially oak. His hobby was woodcraft.

I have lost many people in my life that were close to me. My first husband, a very close friend, uncles, aunts, my great-grandfather, two sets of grandparents, Dad and many others. What makes the process harder for me is when the person is young or dies suddenly. If someone is suffering, I feel they are blessed to be taken from their pain. Sure, I miss them, but it would be selfish to wish them to stay here on Earth when they are in so much pain.

There is a time for everything and God in His wisdom knows the perfect timing for both birth and death. Therefore, my grief is diminished because of my trust in Him.

How has grief touched your life? If you'd like to join Woman to Woman, go to Seeds from My Garden or My Many Colored Days and find out how to participate.

Those Were the Days...

I was feeling a bit blue today, missing my friend, Elmer. Then I had a visit from Smilnsigh. She posted a comment on my blurb about my grandmother and it was very inspiring. Then I went to visit her blog and her latest post inspired me even more. Her post was about Ma and Pa Kettle. This took me for a walk down Memory Lane. This is what I remember...

When I was a child, we didn't get out much. We had plenty of chores to keep us busy. We only went to town once a month. Sometimes we would go for a Sunday drive or visit my paternal grandparents. However, in the summer there was somewhere that our maternal grandparents took us that thrilled us to death. It was to the drive-in.

Grandma would make arrangements with Mom and Dad for us to go. She would put a couple of pillows and a blanket or two in the car and after the evening meal, we would head out to the drive-in. Often, it was a Ma and Pa Kettle movie that was playing. I well remember Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm. It was hilarious and a lot of fun to watch. Even as a child I knew that the antics that went on were not something that occured on every farm. Pa was lazy as lazy could be. Ma was a hard worker. I forget exactly how many kids they had but it was a LOT.

These movies were fun. We didn't get treats from the concession booth. They were too expensive and we didn't expect it. We were happy and thankful just to be getting out and being entertained my Pa and Ma's comical antics. We often went on Buck Night when everyone in the car got in for a dollar. It didnt' matter how many people were in the car, everyone got in for a buck.

Ma Kettle was played by Marjorie Main and Pa by Percy Kilbride. These two people entertained a complete generation with several movies that can still be purchased online. The trips to the drive-in were a lot of fun and something my brother, sister and I always looked forward to.

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On a more serious note October is breast cancer awareness month. My favorite aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. Today she is a breast cancer survivor but is suffering from bone cancer. Please pay tribute this month to breast cancer survivors by donating to the Cancer Society.

Christmas Ornament Exchange

Kathleen Marie at "The Open Window" is hosting her annual Christmas Ornament Exchange. If you would like to participate just click on the name of her website to find out all the details.

In Memory of my Dear Friend, Elmer Ake

A veteran friend of mine who I met on the Internet about nine years ago, passed away on October 8th. I just received the news tonight. Linda, Elmer's daughter, had difficulty contacting me. She finally got my email addy from a mutual friend who lives in Arkansas.

My husband and I was honored to have met Elmer and his family at their home in Cinncinnati, Ohio in the summer of 2005. We were treated like royalty. Elmer had many stories to tell of his adventures in both WWII and as a truck driver. He had a keen sense of humor which continued when he became bedridden. Elmer loved the computer and made many online friends in his retirement years.

Please visit the Elmer Ake Homepage and leave a message of condolence in the guestbook.

You can read Elmer's Obituary HERE

Elmer was 82 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Betty, daughter, Linda and several brothers and sisters. He served in WWII as an army medic and sergeant. After his retirement as a truck driver for Kroger, Elmer wrote poetry about his WWII experiences. If you'd like to see some of his awards and read his poetry, please follow the link above to the Elmer Ake Homepage.

Elmer, you will be missed and never forgotten. You blessed me in a special way.

This candle burns in memory of my dear friend, Elmer.

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When I was growing up, Grandma used to follow the old fashioned way of doing chores. Her version went as follows:

Monday was wash day.

Tuesday was ironing.

Wednesday was Sewing.

Thursday was baking.

Friday was cleaning.

Saturday she went to Market.

Sunday was the Lord's day, which consisted of church morning and evening and resting. There were certain farm chores that had to be done, but only the necessary things. She prepared a lot of the food that was served the day before. All she had to do was warm it up on the old cookstove. Granpa had to feed and take care of the livestock, but otherwise no work was done.

We kids could play quietly outside but we weren't to be wild or whooping around the yard. We could read, but no games were played. We could sit under a tree or laze in the hay mow. We were never allowed to play cards. They were the devil's tool.

The rules in Grandma's house were strict, but we were brought up to respect others, be honest and have faith in God. What more could we have asked for?

At Merle's Request: My Front Door

My friend, Merle, over at Third Try, asked me to post photos of my front door after reading my post "A Look at My House." Here you go, Merle. I hope you enjoy it.

I challenge my visitors to post pictures of their houses. I would love to see where you all live.

Merle,

Here is a bouquet of roses for you for your kind comments and thoughts. I always enjoy your visits and your inspiration.

glitter-graphics.com

A Look at My House

The deed of our house says it was built in 1890, but a couple of weeks ago there was a photo in the local newspaper of a brewing company that used to be located nearby. To my surprise, our house was in the photo, though it looked a little different than it does today. The side porch and kitchen wasn't there, the upper deck and kitchen was missing and there were few other houses in the neighborhood. There was a pop factory down the street about four houses. And a funeral home a couple of blocks to the north. But how could our house be in the photo if it was built in 1890? The photo in the newspaper was dated 1856.

I did a little research and found that though the house is in the picture, it was never recorded at the land office until the 1890 date. Seems rather odd, but of course the city was young at that time. It was founded in 1839.

The house has changed a lot in the 15 years we've had it. The cement front porch has been replaced (at the insistance of the fire insurance company) with the wooden one in the photo. The side porch had wrought iron railings when we moved here. When we replaced the front porch, we had the rusty wrought iron taken off and a new wooden railing put on. We also changed the back stairs for the upper floor because they went down onto the side lawn.

This house is old and there's no doubt about that. When we changed the ceilings a few years back we found chimney holes for an old woodstove in the living room and soot that had drifted into the rafters. It seems the place where my computer is today was a parlor and there is a trapdoor in the floor that went into the basement. It has now been covered with laminate honey-colored flooring.

Have you ever stripped wallpaper off of an old house? When we moved here the living room was papered with a floral paper that was circa 1960. It had been put on with wallpaper paste and it was tough to get off. We still paper it because the walls are so uneven they'd look horrible painted. One day we hope to take the horse hair plaster off and replace it with something a little more modern. First though, we have to do some work on the bathroom and kitchen.

The house is an ongoing project that will take years to renovate into the place we want it to be. However, it was purchased at a time when housing was less expensive than it was today and it suits us nicely. It most certainly has character. We've thought of selling it but it seems like too much effort to move at our age. This has been home for 15 years and it will continue to be home for many years to come.

Note: The house sits on a hill. The photo on the bottom shows the front of the house. My husband and I bought the new front door in lieu of Christmas and birthday presents last year. It is a mountain scene with a lake with mallard ducks in the forefront.

The photo on the top is looking up the hill at the side of the house. The lawn is greener than it's been all summer, but the summer drought took it's toll on the grass. I'm hoping it comes back next year, but if not, we will have to seed.

I hope you enjoyed seeing where I live. Later I will post some photos of what I see from my front door.

Look at the tree in front of the house. This photo was taken earlier today. It's Oct. 21st and all the green leaves are still on that tree. We broke a record today at 26 degrees C from 1979. Last year on the same day it was 11 degrees C. Though we are saving on natural gas, I am concerned about the environment. I think global warming is moving faster than we thought.