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Monday, 23 November 2009

ROCK PICKIN'

My friend Old Hat is inspiring folks to write about Paying Jobs they have had. When I ponder my own life, I see that I have done many many jobs that could--or perhaps should--have given me pay, but that were volunteer on my part.

My very first Paying Job sticks well in my mind, though. My best friend grew up on an Indiana farm much larger than our own--several hundred acres over in the muck land. Rich black healthy dirt. Her dad needed a bunch of young people to help pick up rock, so for two days that's what we did, for $1 an hour.

The earth is always pushing up new stones in the field, and the big ones can damage the farm equipment, so they need to be removed and thrown in the pile. In some regions, they've been used to build stone fences, and many were used for house foundations. The fireplace in my parents' home (which they built themselves) is made of rock we picked up through the years, and just last year a fellow asked if he could rummage through the rock pile for a project he wanted to do at his house.

They are beautiful: reds and blues and yellows, with a lot of quartz; they are also heavier than they look.

I never could understand why, for all his cleverness, he didn't create what my father (who obviously is far more clever) did and still does use: a stone boat. Take a bunch of boards, put a few crosspieces on it, and drag this behind the tractor. That way, when you pick up a rock you just move it over and let it DOWN onto the boat.

My friend's dad pulled a regular hay wagon instead. We had to pick the rock UP and heave it UP onto the wagon, which was terrible work.

It was also dirty work. My friend's brother was plowing nearby with another tractor, raising up the black dust as he went by. When the days were over, we looked like coal miners, and I had to shampoo and shampoo and shampoo my hair to get it back to blonde.

Saturday, 21 November 2009

FLYING SQUIRRELS

Our outdoor cat came to us unexpectedly, as a small thin stray of a thing with a sad, sweet, hopeful face. She was one of many cats out there who visit our property every day, but you could tell she was uncared for. There came a summer day when she sat longingly outside the screen door smelling our crockpot beef, and we "caved." She's belonged to us ever since.

At the time, the NCFCA debate topic of the year was about immigration, so we named her Immigrant, her having come to us from someplace else. That quickly morphed into Imogene, which is now her legal name. We often call her "Immie," but my favorite name for her is "Mrs." She is a very sweet-tempered cat.

But when it comes to hunting, she doesn't mess around. Almost every morning it's my husband's job to take away her offerings to us and add them to the Rodent Graveyard beyond the house.

Lately her offerings have caused us distress and amazement. Within the last three weeks, she has brought us three flying squirrels. I never expected to see a flying squirrel in my lifetime, let alone this many. I really wish she wouldn't!

They are so furry that when Imogene trots up to the door with one, she has nothing but a big fat mouth of fluff.

We hope that two of the three survived and got away--we scramble to bring Imogene into the house so the little creatures have a chance--but I suspect this one died after I moved him into the woods.

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

SOMETHING FOR CHRISTMAS

I almost forgot to tell you about a great Christmas gift idea I had for last year! Because I didn't want to spoil any surprises, I couldn't tell you then; now it's time: Cafe Press.

No, they're not paying me to advertise (that would be delightful!), but I think it's a great place to shop. They specialize in items that are personalized with whatever photo/picture/logo you design.

I made two logos for my dad's farm (one vertical and one horizontal) using PrintShop. Then I uploaded them to Cafe Press, and the computer created my own Putman Farms store, automatically putting the logo on a whole bunch of stuff such as hats, t-shirts, dog dishes, mugs, clocks, stationery, tote bags, etc. Even (ahem!) underwear.

I did have to go in and adjust some of them, as perhaps they weren't centered where I wanted them to be, or the right size. And since I had two logos, I had to decide which logo I wanted. I made a special logo for a clock and for a license plate holder.

I waited for a Store Owner sale, and bought all sorts of things for my whole family at 20% off.

Other family members can go there any time and purchase things on their own. Way cool!

I've made a store for our speech & debate club as well.

I hope YOU have an enjoyable time trying to delight your family this year!

Tuesday, 03 November 2009

SCI-FI IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Is there a regular household chore that just irritates you very much--basically for no reason at all? It's the hair in the bathroom sink that does me in. Not because the hair itself annoys me, but because of something I was told many years ago about how easy it is to clean a bathroom and how simple it is to remove the hair as part of that process.

You are to take a tissue, dampen it, and "just whisk it out."

So every day, I take a tissue, dampen it, and chase and chase and chase and chase those hairs, all the while muttering to myself "JUST WHISK IT OUT, JUST WHISK IT OUT, JUST WHISK IT OUT: RIGHT!!!"

Recently myself and I had a serious talk about this task that so totally annoys me every day. A funny thing happened. There was a sci-fi tweak that plinked in my brain, some sort of dimensional twist, just a slight shift of perspective. Why not just take my time chasing those hairs and see this as an opportunity to daydream, relax, and stand there all day if I have to? What a grand chance to goof off for a while!

Son: Where did Mom go?
Other son: Oh, she's just whisking hairs.

I wish this for you too, my friends--let those thoughts shift, just a little.

Monday, 26 October 2009

UNSPEAKABLE THOUGHTS

People have all sorts of thoughts going through their heads that I'm sure we know nothing about. We simply don't.

Yesterday I had leftover grilled onions on my plate as part of the Leftovers Sunday Smorgasbord. These had been marinated in tumeric/lemon juice/soy & tabasco sauce, grilled, and served with Tunisian Chicken and Rice, which is soooo good. It SMELLS absolutely delicious too.

I was joining in the conversation, enjoying fellowship, & interacting with others, but at the same time I was thinking: "You know, I think that if you cut an earthworm with a fork, it might feel exactly like this onion feels as I'm cutting it right now."

I started contemplating writing a blog article about it.

I convinced myself even more.

I almost made myself sick.

I had to stop eating the onions.

If there are any leftovers LEFT, they're getting tossed out TODAY.

Sunday, 25 October 2009

SELF-INFLICTED SURVEY

I couldn't resist the meme Old Hat has over at his website, so here it is (*with a few questions added myself)!

What is the most exciting thing you did this weekend?
We had our 6th annual Pemberley Promenade last night. I taught the workshop two nights beforehand, and then was the Dance Mistress for the event (which included setup as well). This year was Masquerade (Jane Austen style). I went as Red Riding Hood.

What is the oddest chore you have done this week?
I ironed cloaks, dresses, pinafores, breeches, and neckties (from supposedly the 19th century).

*What is the hardest thing you have done this week?
Because each English Country Dance has music that matches the dance (for example, the music Row Well, Ye Mariners has a dance written for it that is called "Row Well, Ye Mariners") I have to use music from CDs for the balls. But store-bought music doesn't play long enough for what we need, and so I use the computer to copy and paste bits of each to make them long enough. For some reason, I had a terrible time getting The Rakes of Rochester to work.

What is the most ridiculous thing you attempted this week?
This week I made Regency trousers, complete with buttonholes and plackets below the knee and what I call "the peeing flap."

*What gave you the most worries this week?
I was worried about whether or not it would be too difficult for the dancers to learn some of the new dances I was going to introduce this weekend. Also, my Younger Son had a terrible migraine headache this week. I hope you can guess which of these worries REALLY worried me the most.

What is on your project list?
I need to make more soap (in 40-bar batches), as people like to buy it at Christmas time, and it takes 6 weeks to cure.

What are you reading for fun?
Sci-fi short stories.

What are you reading to improve your mind?
Um...do magazines like Time, U.S. News & World Report, Reader's Digest, and Scientific American count?
I don't really like to read many non-fiction books.

What is nearby and making you smile?
The trees are incredible this weekend, and today there is sunshine to make them a huge blur of yellow outside the window.

What should you be doing instead of this?
Changing out of my Sunday church clothes.

What are you doing right now to soothe your soul?
When I read this question, I stopped working on this meme and changed my clothes in preparation for taking a long walk outside. But before I reached the door, sleep overcame me like a mist, and I took a nap instead.

What kind of sunglasses do you wear?
I'm embarrassed to say I don't wear them. I just got new eyeglasses and I need to purchase something that fits on them.

What is your current favorite song?
Does this mean my favorite song--or the current one going through my head ? I finally got rid of Numa Numa, which stayed in there for at least 2 months (there's always the fear that simply typing the words "Numa Numa" will put it right back in there), and then a couple of weeks ago I picked up Doo, doo, doo, Lookin' Out My Back Door. Of course this week it's been nothing but English Country Dance tunes--today it is Row Well, Ye Mariners. Here's a video of our folks dancing it:

How is your iPod (or other music player) organized?
Well, I have one of those things, but I can't figure out how to use it. It has some good sermons on it, but sometimes I just have to listen to one I've already listened to--because I don't know how to find the other ones!

What have you not had time for lately, that you miss?
Long walks outside.

What is the strangest thing on your desk?
This is a windup toy I bought at a yard sale. I wind it up every once in a while.

What would you be blogging about right now if you had the time and/or brain power?
I often would like to talk about some of my thoughts about relationships, particularly between mother and children or adults and their aging parents. But since they read my blog, that makes it difficult. Not that I would say mean things about them; it just would be awkward.

What do you have in your pocket that is not usually there?
I rarely use pockets. Quite often I don't HAVE pockets. It would be nice to have a big ol' pocket in my Regency-era ballgown so I wouldn't have to hold the wireless microphone box in my hand, but there you have it. Me all dressed up, with a black mike on my cheek, a black box in my hand, and a black wire running in-between.

*What great food have you eaten lately?
This weekend I made a batch of meatballs in the large crockpot for gluten-eating folks at the ball AND a regular crockpot of gluten-free meatballs for us. It's so easy and so good. For a regular-sized crockpot, mix together one jar of apricot or peach jam with 18 oz. of barbecue sauce and pour it on top of 2 lbs. of frozen Aldi meatballs. Cook on LOW all day.

Gluten-free: Make your own meatballs, use Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, and gluten free jam.

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

AN EXPERIMENT IN BLOOM

This past spring, I had leftover flower seeds and a leftover flower pot from the previous year. Why not just throw some seeds in there and see what happens? This was the result:

It became so top-heavy that every time the wind blew, it would fall over.

Our first snow didn't seem to faze it a bit.

This week it finally came to an end, with the frost.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009

RECHARGING MY BATTERIES

Recently I came up with the strong desire to own something I can't afford right now: a charging valet.

This fantastic little piece of furniture lets you put all the items you need to recharge in one place, with the cords hidden inside.

I had never heard of these, but when I saw one in a catalog, I became absolutely convinced it would solve all my life's problems (well, maybe one of them, anyhow).

Who has $40-50 to buy one of these? I do not. So I came up with a wacky idea of making my own, and I'm SURE you will want to make one too! Disclaimer: the images below are a prototype; you may want to make yours more aesthetic than mine.

1. Choose a shoebox that is big enough to hold a power strip. Paint the box or cover it with contact paper or giftwrap.

2. Cut a hole down low in the side of it so that when the power strip is inside the box, its cord can come out.

3. On the top of the box, cut at least 3 of these little door flaps. I put a V notch in them in the hopes that they would keep the cords in place better.

4. Put the power strip inside the box and plug your rechargeables into it.

5. Thread the rechargeable cords up through the little door flaps.

6. Now you have a safe and consistent place in which to plug your cell phone, recharge batteries, etc. etc.!

Sunday, 06 September 2009

MY OWN SECRET

I have recently been published in a book! It's called Coaching a Club: Seven Secrets to Forming a Successful Speech & Debate Club. The author compiled thoughts and ideas of 11 people across this country who are deeply involved in homeschool forensics; it's extremely helpful for people who are interested in that topic.

She asked us each to supply a short bio of ourselves, along with a photo. A photo??! Because I'm the chief photographer of the house, and because I've neither run for office OR had a glamour shot done, there really isn't a lovely photo of myself just lying around.

But I found one in my computer.

It's well enough to hold its own with the other contributors. But what people DON'T know (although you yourself might recall from a former post) is the context of this photo: I was having a high-old-time drilling holes into a plastic trash can!

THAT'S my own secret.

Monday, 31 August 2009

AWASH IN PICKLES

In my whole life, I have not eaten any pickle that wasn't made by my mother.

It's the kind of pickle that is very sweet; you can't buy them in the store.

When I eat them, I often think of my mother's work for us, and I notice each slice as if her hands cut it just today. We treat them like gold.

This year it was my turn to make the pickles. I spent a lot of time with my mother, in order to decipher the old and simple family recipe--learning, for example, what exactly "two hands of salt" means. Even so, I had to keep calling her for more details during the week-long process.

First I had to figure out where to buy the large amounts of spices, and also what kind and how many cucumbers to buy.

Then they had to sit in the crock for several days ("STIR THE BRINE UP GOOD WITH YOUR ARM EACH DAY").

On the Big Day, I had to boil them in THIS; pour off. Boil them in THAT; pour off. Boil them again, and finally, put them in jars.

There are enough for my family, my parents, and my brother's family--just like Mom makes. But it remains to be seen whether or not they TASTE the same.