Real tomatoes…

YES!!  These are real tomatoes sent to me from my son in law’s brother and his wife from their garden.  THANKS!!! Tim and Val.  Now if only I had a zucchini.  Jim and I always had a garden.  Not a big one, but big enough that we always had plenty of tomatoes to share with our neighbors.  Even after Jim died I would go out to our garden area each spring and hoe up a big enough space to plant 4 or 5 tomato plants.  All I have room for here are potted tomato plants  This year the heat killed them even though they were watered daily.

Our garden at home.

I have to go out this morning to the pharmacy and to run a couple of errands. It is to be mid 90s today.  We have had 26 days this month with over 90 temps which ties a record from 1887.  Out of those 26 days over a week was triple digit highs.  We are way below normal rainfall and our whole state along with many other states are drought disasters.

Have a peaceful day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

50% chance fizzled…

out.

fizzles3rd person singular present, plural of fiz·zle

Verb:

End or fail in a weak or disappointing way: "their revolt fizzled out".

Noun:

A failure.

We didn’t get one drop of rain here.  Some places around here got a few drops but nothing to speak of.  Our grass is the color of wheat now.

*****

Have you ever noticed that a complete stranger will stop you and tell you their problems??  In the Kroger store this morning I noticed one of the lady workers pushing a lift with a heavy cart on it.  I said hi and I bet that was a good workout for her figure.  She stopped pushing and told me about her trips to the doctor and that it was discovered that she had bone spurs in both knees.  I listened patiently because I know how painful bone spurs are.  I have them in my neck, back and both ankles.  I didn’t tell her my sad story, I just told her that I was so sorry.  It really is easier to tell a total stranger things that you don’t discuss even with your family.

And on the way to the store I had 3 cars pull out right in front of me from stop signs and 2 that pulled out in front of me on the way home.   The street I was on is all through traffic.  The thought does cross my mind to speed up a little bit and give them a scare.  That is dangerous so I never do.  The thought is there however.

I have a whole chicken cooking so that I will have something healthy to eat this week.

I hope you all have a good week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

50 % chance…

of rain today with high in the upper 80s.  This is the best chance we have had for rain for a long time.  I really hope that we get some.  No storms though, please.

*****

This picture was taken the day we moved from Missouri to Illinois.  I am in the front row with the striped sleeves.

*****

Have a wonderful day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Good Morning…

 

Have a peaceful weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Happy Birthday to my sister Rae…

What is a sister?

A sister is someone
who's been where you've been,
who knows you
and what you're about...
Someone you know
you can call if you need to
when something's
just not working out.
A sister is someone
who's more than just family
her friendship is one of a kind...
And the closeness you've shared
through life's laughter and tears
is the deepest
that you'll ever find.

I'm lucky to have a sister like you...
I wouldn't trade our special relationship
for anything in the world.
Nothing is more comfortable
or more reassuring than knowing
that you're always there.
And you make life so enjoyable
just by being yourself
You've always been the best kind of sister.

I just thought I'd say "thanks".

-Author Unknown

*****

Rae is my only remaining sister.  She knows me better than anyone in the world.  She has held my hand and dried my tears many times.  I remember our teenage years, double dating and hanging out and watching each others back.  She has a heart of gold and never says no to any one who needs help.  She would give you the clothes off her back if you admired them.  I know  because I have been the recipient of some pieces of clothing I have admired.  She is on first name basis with many of the town officials and several personnel at the local television stations .  She is an untiring worker for the handicapped in several counties around her.  She donates her time to  these worthwhile causes.  I don’t get to see her very often because she lives 500 miles from me in West Virginia.

Love you Rae,

May God truly bless you and may this be one of the happiest days of your life.

Beth

Thursday and..

no need to wonder what I needed to do today.  My BP has been spiking all week which is unusual for me.  This meant a trip to Peoria this morning to see my kidney/BP specialist.  I will have a kidney ultrasound at Peoria OSF one week from next Tuesday.  Then it will be determined if I need to have another kidney angiogram.  If it isn’t one thing it is another.  I find it very hard sometimes but I keep on asking God to keep me in His care.

On the way home my daughter and I stopped at the Wild Berries Restaurant.  They have very good food there.

And now I am extremely tired.  I am going to rest for awhile and I will be back later to visit the ones of you that I missed this morning.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Wednesday, official rant day…

I didn’t want to do it but I feel compelled to tell you all that the expected temp for us right here in the very heart of Illinois today is predicted to be 105.  If that isn’t something to rant about I don’t know what is.  I will not be venturing out at all today unless it is an emergency. 

So what to do on a day with extreme heat.  First you pray that the air conditioner keeps working,  Then you get busy and do some housework that you have neglected for awhile, or read a book, anything to keep busy.  And of course, the bathroom always needs cleaning.

*****

MY niece sitting on top of a snow bank and my daughter trying to reach the top,

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Here I am again…

I know I said I wouldn’t but here I am again complaining  no, just commenting, that yesterday’s actual temperature of 104 degrees is getting to be a little bit too much.  Everything is so dry and brown here except my front yard which maintenance is keeping watered.  I think that is one reason I feel out of sorts.  The heat is wearing me out and giving me cabin fever. 

My daughter is coming over today and is going to help me clean out the big closets in my bedrooms.  I am planning on sending a lot more stuff to Goodwill.  But first I have to go and find me some breakfast.

Breakfast finished.  Low sodium, low fat, no sugar cereal with a banana.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.  NOT! 

*****

Closets cleaned and 5 garbage bags full of clothes, some electrical appliances, shoes and books all delivered to Goodwill.  I barebones cleaned out the clothing.  If I haven’t worn it in the last 2 years it went.  Enough for a really good garage sale.

I fixed a bacon tomato sandwich for lunch.  The tomato wasn’t bad but still not tasting like the real thing even though they were from local producers.  The local peaches though were really delicious.

I have a ton of papers to shred from 2 files I found in one of the closets.

I will be by to visit you all later.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Mundane Monday…

mun·dane/ˌmənˈdān/

Adjective:

1. Lacking interest or excitement; dull.
2. Of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.

Synonyms:

worldly - temporal - earthly - secular – terrestrial

*****

Short post this morning as I am not quite feeling up to par.  I have been to the pharmacy and to Kroger and to mail a birthday card.  And now I think I will just take it easy for awhile.

I hope you all have a great week.  stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Sunday morning…

and a bit drizzly outside.  I think I counted about half a dozen rain sprinkles when I took the garbage out a few minutes ago.  This is not to be confused with rain.  And even though I have gotten used to it and promised not to mention it, it is to be upper 90s to low 100s for the next 8 days.  Not mentioning it, just saying!

Life does go on despite the senseless killings in the movie theater.  We each have our own problems to deal with that remain forefront in our minds.  Reading the paper or watching TV we see the horror replayed over and over and our minds go back to the victims and their families and the terrible grief they are bearing.  I grieve with them.

I have the barbeque on cooking for the sandwiches which I am serving on onion buns.  The potato salad is made and the baked beans are put together, ready to fix.  The cherry pie is sliced, and even though tempted I didn’t take a bite.  Most likely because my tummy is a bit barfy this morning.  lol  I thought about going to the store this morning for some vanilla ice cream for the pie but I decided I was too lazy.

I have one chapter left in my Sandford book of 401 pages.  This means I will have to start a new book this evening.

I hope you are all having a peaceful weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

A Week of mourning…

I am mourning along with the rest of America the senseless deaths Thursday night in Colorado.     My heart, thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/batman-shooting-aurora-critically-injured_n_1691217.html

Is it safe to go out in public anymore?  You might be sitting in a McDonalds or even as I was in a KFC yesterday when some lunatic comes in and starts shooting.  We have to believe that we are safe when we go out in public, otherwise we would be afraid to leave our homes, and even that might not be safe.  I usually don’t quote excerpts from the Bible in my blog.  Today I am  making an exception.   I tend to be a worrier, if I get one problem solved in my mind a new one soon takes its place.  Matthew 6:34 tells us not to worry about tomorrow, just to let the days own troubles be sufficient.   I usually recite these words out loud several times a day.  It does help.

*****

I made potato salad this morning.  Tomorrow my daughter and son in law are stopping by after church for lunch.  I am having the potato salad, barbeque beef on buns and baked beans along with cherry pie (my daughter’s favorite) that Marie Callendar helped me make.  Other than the cooking, I am not doing much today.  I am going to treat myself to a couple of chapters from my new Sandford book.  A question for M in Wisconsin.  Have you read his Virgil Flowers books??  I love them too although I haven’t purchased the newest one yet.

I am settling in for a peaceful weekend.  I hope you all do the same.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

P.S.  I have made a resolution to not mention the excessive heat and lack of rain.  Doesn’t do anything but give me something else to worry about.  lol

For Linda

Hi Linda, I hope you are reading this. Yesterday on my post you asked where I got this quote. I found it on a free image site, I don’t remember which one. I am so sorry for the loss of your son. If you want to save this to your computer, please right click on it.
*****


I am home now from garage sales, and Schnucks where I purchased some tomatoes and peaches that were promised to be fresh. We shall see.  Not many garage sales today as even though it is overcast and a bit cooler I think not many were scheduled. I found a nice bit of shelving that will fit in my utility room where space is at a premium.


Then a stop at KFC and I am home for the day. I missed Y&R but it is recorded on the DVR so I will catch it later.


I treated myself to a special purchase this week. It was John Sandford’s Stolen Prey. It was rather pricey on sale at $20.96 but I figure I am worth it. I am spacing myself reading it to make it last longer. Sandford is my favorite author. When I am finished reading it I will just turn it over and leave it on the end table as that guy is pretty darn good looking. lol To load it on my Nook it would have been $14.99.

I hope you all have a great weekend. Stay safe and be happy!!


Beth

Today…

I am doing a guest post on http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ for Kathy.  I have never done anything like this before.  Kathy fixed the pictures in my post and I want to thank her for that.  Please visit Kathy’s blog.  I am sure you will enjoy it as it is so peaceful and lovely.  Thank you again Kathy for allowing me to share your beautiful blog today.

**********

It is to be another hot humid day.  The official temperature for yesterday was 101 with the heat index much higher.  There were storms all around us but we didn’t get anything.  I think the most rain any of them got was less than 1/10 of an inch.  Like a drop in the ocean.

Yesterday I found out that one of my blogging friends lives and works in the general area in western Illinois where I grew up.  Thanks to her I now know that the Dairy Queen that I patronized when I was in high school is still there.  I haven’t been back to that area since a family member’s funeral.  Sadly I also found out that the Student Prince where my friends and I hung out on occasion is no longer there.  I am guessing the town square is still intact.  I spent many a dollar for gas for my 53 pea green Plymouth so that we could sit on the square with the motor idling and watch the cars go by.  Shades of Norman Rockwell.

My sis from WV just called me with several names to add to my personal prayer list.  My thoughts and prayers will be with them all.  Also, my sister Rae, love you for your sweet self and kind heart.

You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Waiting Wednesday…

Hump day has arrived.  That is what we called it in my working days.  Tomorrow is p**p  (S.H.I.T.) day and so forth.  I learned all kinds of things when I worked for the military.  Like how to use an occasional cuss word in Spanish when something didn’t go right.  One of my bosses was from Texas.  She spoke fluent Spanish and when she was irritated she would go into a tirade in that language.

*****

ti·rade/ˈtīrād/

Noun:

A long, angry speech of criticism or accusation: "a tirade of abuse".

*****

It wasn’t long before I learned some phrases to use when I was aggravated.  I still remember them all, I just won’t mention them here.  SGT. A was one of the best bosses I have ever had.  She was honest and didn’t beat around the bush when she wanted to get a point across.  Some of my bosses at the AFB could only be described as horse’s patooties.

*****

patootiesplural of pa·too·tie (Noun)

Noun:

1. A girlfriend or a pretty girl.
2. derogatory. A person's or animal's buttocks.

*****

But that is all in the past.  Today, in the present, I was at the hospital at 6:30 AM for lab work.  My daughter was with me.  We went to Steak  ‘n ‘ Shake for breakfast, and now I am home for the day. 

Mid to upper 90s predicted for the rest of this week and next with no rain in sight.  Our governor has declared Illinois a drought disaster state.  He toured some of the counties in southeastern Il a couple of days ago.  He opened an ear of corn and there were no kernels.  This is bad folks.  Illinois is right in the center of the corn belt.  Think of all of the things made from corn.  We will pay for this next year.

Try to stay cool and thank God that you are here to complain about the heat.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Still remembering more about the railroad cut…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paxton,_Illinois
http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=illinois/paxtoncenter/

    


This is my sister Rae standing on the foot bridge over the railroad cut in September 2007.  We have each lost over 25 lbs since then
.


And yet a different view I took of the bridge which was close to my home.
I hope if you are interested in railroad history that you will take a look at the links.  The only bridge remaining across the railroad cut now is the one I am showing you in the pictures.
Have an uncloudy day, tolerate the heat, and long for fall.  That is what I am going to do.  It is to be 100 actual degrees today.  I have an appointment to get my hair cut this morning.  I will be in  then for the rest of the day.


Stay safe and be happy!!


Beth

Another new day…

in another new week. What shall I do with this new day that I have been granted?  The possibilities are endless.  For example:

1. I could do nothing which is what I am best at doing.
2. I could do something which is what I am trying to decide right now.
3. I could go to the store as I am out of bananas again.  I have to make up mind on that in a hurry as it is going to be another hot day in the mid 90sl
4. I could do some cleaning but that makes me shudder.
5. I could read a book.  I did that yesterday, I read a 374 page book in one afternoon.
6. I could do none of the above.
7. I could just say thank you to God for another day and ask Him to help me make the most of it.

Mind made up.  I will just go with number 7. 

I hope you all have a great day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

I remember…

Some of my blogging friends have been posting pictures of bridges/foot bridges the past couple of weeks.  We had foot bridges at home that crossed the railroad cut. 

    

If you will click on these pictures they will become bigger.

   The foot bridge you see in the last picture was just one block from my home.  I remember one sunny hot Sunday afternoon Jim and I were sitting on the back porch listening to the police scanner.  Sirens started going off and the ambulance and fire trucks were called to the area of this bridge.  Someone had jumped off the bridge trying to commit suicide.  Quite a bit of excitement for our little town of just over 4,000.  Fortunately the young man wasn’t too seriously hurt.

***********

It is to be mid to upper 90s today and all  of this week.  We got .47 inches of rain yesterday which puts us at about 1 &1/2 inches total for the month of June and July combined.

I put a roast on with carrots, potatoes and onions when I first got up this morning, hoping to beat the heat of the day.

I hope you all have a peaceful day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain…

YES!!  It is raining here in central Illinois. A nice steady rain for the last couple of hours with hardly any lightning,  God is good!!

    

From my front door and from the back door where you can also see the ‘tree’ that I take a picture of each month with the cemetery in the background.  Click to make pictures bigger. 

Yesterday was a good day for hitting the garage sales.  Hot but humid reaching the mid 90s.  The mid 90s are nothing after the week of 100 – 105 temps we had all last week.

At a garage sale yesterday a boy about 8 with a slightly older sister were manning their garage sale.  (I was praying that the mother was close by keeping a watchful eye on them)  There was a big table of coloring books and young children’s story books, most of them brand new.  I asked the boy how much these books were as I have a 3 year old great great niece here in town (yes, I meant to say great, great) and my daughter is in charge of the nursery at her church.  This boy told me that the more you buy, the better the deal.  He was so serious, I just started smiling.  He really made my day.  We settled on $1.25 for 11 books.  I feel that kid is destined to go far, probably in politics! 

I also got a few hardbacks, some DVDs,  and 3 cookbooks.  And a huge new Christmas tin that will be perfect for holding my homemade fruit cake while I have it soaking in the rum.  Less than $10 total spent.  Then my daughter and I ate at Bob Evans.  It was a very nice morning although very tiring. 

The rain has stopped now but I am thankful for each drop we got.  I hope you all have a pleasant weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!1

Beth

Friday and…

Thank you Janice for this award.

I am always happy to get an award.   it means a lot to me that a blogging friend thinks that much of me.  However, after so many years, I don’t nominate others.  So many don’t want awards, and I can understand that.  I would love to see this award posted on your blog if you want to.

The really hard thing comes down to those 7 random facts.  I think after 7 years most of you know more about me than I know about myself.  So here goes something different.

Things that I don’t like:

1. I don’t like going to the dentist although I haven’t had a cavity in a blue moon (knocking on wood).
2. I hate with a passion cleaning the bathroom.
3. I don’t like going to funerals.  I am getting to the age where they are happening way too often.
4. I am bothered to the point of tears if I think I have hurt anyone’s feelings.
5. I really hate it that I had to move, leaving my home and friends behind even though it was necessary.
6. I am not fond of weddings either.  Unless it is a close friend or a family member I send a check.
7. I  don’t like clutter.  I may not get the sweeper out each day but I keep things tidy.

And that is it.  No more questions and answers for me as I am all answered out.    I am on my way to check out the garage sales.  I promise to visit you all when I get back.

Have a peaceful weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

A reminder…

This is what I received in the mail yesterday.

    

from my dentist’s office…and just look at the cutesy stamp and postmark.

Sorry Mr. Dentist, no matter how you cartoon it up and put a mom heart on the postmark I am still not wanting to come visit you.  I honestly do have that right at the top of my list of things I hate to do.  I have my teeth cleaned every 6 months.  My mouth actually hurts for several days after.  I used to have a coworker that loved to go to the dentist.  I always thought she was a bit ditzy.  lol

*****

dit·zy/ˈditsē/

Adjective:

Silly or scatterbrained: "don't tell me my ditzy secretary didn't send you an invitation!"

*****

I found the perfect stress relaxer for yesterday afternoon.  I have this habit of putting leftover candy items in the freezer so they don’t tempt me.  I found a small bag of red, white and pink M&Ms, part of a bag of peanut M&Ms, about 1/3 package of Nestles chocolate chunks and about 1 cup of walnuts.  Using my trusty old Toll House cookie recipe and these goodies found in my freezer I made a batch of something that turned out to be very good.

For some reason, I can never take a good picture in my kitchen and my only knowledge with a camera is to point and shoot.  The plate of cookies (1 dozen) are for my daughter and son in law and the container of a dozen is for the freezer.  I guess I will have to eat what is in the bag.  lol

I hope you are all getting ready for a nice weekend.  Do Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Thank you…

for the kind thoughts and prayers, they really held me up this morning along with the Good Lord holding my hand.  My prognosis is good; the cluster of nodules was determined to be benign.  It was a big load off my shoulders.  Thank you God!

It is a lovely day here, the sun is shining and it is 83 degrees right now to be in the lower 90s by late afternoon.  So much better than the over 100 degree mark of last week.  Still no rain in sight.  The farmers are getting very concerned over the drought and the corn crop will be greatly reduced this year as it its too late for rain to help now.  the soybean crop is less stressed and some rain would be very beneficial.   Look for higher prices for all products made from corn in the coming  months.

This is a short post as I am trying to get myself calmed down from the past few stressful days.

I hope this week is being good to you all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

More Lakeside Cemetery…

To answer a lot of questions from family and friends;  no, I don’t mind living by a cemetery at all. 

*****

“I know where I am going
When they lay me to rest
Oh, I ain't afraid of dying
Lord, it's the living that scares me to death.”

~ John Anderson ~

*****

   

More pics from my walks in the cemetery.

*****

I just received some disturbing news.  I have to go to the hospital in the morning and have a test repeated. 

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Lakeside Cemetery…

One of my blogging friends asked me about the cemetery that is literally in my back yard.  Well, not quite, but almost.  lol  I have tried to research this cemetery but there is little information to be found on internet searches.  I personally know that some of the graves date back to the early 1800s.  I have not walked all of the cemetery but my daughter has and confirmed this for me.  My walks aren’t all that inclusive; after all I am 20 years older than her. 

 

The sign…                                                                  The mausoleum…

 

A couple of the pictures I took on one of my walks there.

I hope you all have a good week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

The Tree…

with my monthly picture of the tree between me and the cemetery.  The photo should have been taken on the 4th of July.  Sorry about that.  I will just blame it on the heat wave.

    

4 January 2012                                                         4 February 2012

    

4 March 2012  light dusting of snow                                     4 April 2012

   

4 May 2012                                            4 June 2012

   

8 July 2012  Notice how brown the grass is.  4 August 2012, still no rain to speak of.

60% chance of rain for tonight.  Doing a rain dance.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Is today the end…

of this miserable heat wave?  I keep hearing this on the weather reports and in the news.  I will believe it when it happens.  Yesterday our actual temperature at 5 PM was 105 degrees.  I feel an extreme case of cabin fever even though I have gone out each day and done the necessary things.  I am feeling exhausted each day.  I must remind myself of all of this when it is the dead of winter and I am longing for spring.  I really like the spring and fall in Illinois.  I tolerate summer and winter.  This year we had no spring as it immediately was hot in March.  Now I am hearing no fall.  PLEASE!!!!

Now what to do today to keep busy?  I have read several books this past week and watched a few movies on TV; putzed around and generally overate.

*****

intr.v. putzed, putz·ing, putz·es Slang

To behave in an idle manner; putter.

*****

As for overeating, what is for lunch?  I will have to look in my freezer and give that some thought.  For supper last night I fixed a big lettuce salad with boiled egg, shredded cheese, tomato and ranch dressing.  I had a peach for dessert.  It was good but I don’t do well with so much fresh stuff at once.

I hope it is cool wherever you are.  If so, send it along to central Illinois along with at least 2 inches of rain.

Do stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Short and..

and not so sweet because I am just home after being out in this dreadful heat.  It is in the 90s already and to climb to actual temperature of 103 –104. 

I had a test done at the hospital and then I went to Food Depot to pick up a few things.  Their brand of canned vegetables were all 38 cents a can.  I have used the store brand before and I think the quality compares to name brand.  I am picky and will not buy some store brands.

I hope you are all staying  in where it is cool.  It is too hot to be out very long.  I felt kind of funny this morning as I was out moving around in the heat.

I will try and get caught up with you all now.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Tenacious Thursday…

and the heat wave just keeps on keeping on.  We are fortunate here in central  Illinois as we are just having the terrible heat.  My nephew in Charleston WV has been without electricity  since last Friday night after a powerful thunder storm.  He had to discard a freezer and refrigerator full of food.  My heart goes out to those still suffering from power outages.  This heat wave is supposed to break next Monday and I hope that it does.

Yesterday was an uneventful day.  I heard all of the fireworks last night but didn’t go anywhere to watch them.  I even had the TV off and read while I listened to the loud booms.  And America is a year older!

This morning I do have to get out to mail some letters and early tomorrow morning I have another test at the hospital. 

Some news in the morning paper has led me to another rant.  At Hallendale Beach Florida a lifeguard, Thomas Lopez, helped save a drowning man and got fired for it.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/04/tomas-lopez-lifeguard-fired-hallandale-beach_n_1649803.html.  if you haven’t read this you have to click on the link and read it.  Thomas, my hat is off to you!

And another newsworthy thing.  I got a beautifully embossed thank you card from Sherman’s, the place where I purchased my TV last month.  Are they out for more business or what??  I saw on the internet that the Better Business Bureau had given this store an A+ rating.  My thank you note had a handwritten message in it signed by one of the biggies.  Terrible handwriting but the thought was there and my faith in mankind upped a little bit.

I do need to get going before it gets any hotter.  Predicted high for today actual temp is 101.

Stay cool and stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

God Bless America!

 

Have a wonderful 4th.  Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

Thank you Janice…

 

Thank you Janice for the award that you have given me and the very nice words you said about me.  I am honored.  This is the second Kreativ Blogger Award I have been given.

Now I am supposed to answer 7 questions about me

1. What is my favorite song?   I have so many it is hard to choose one.  I will choose ‘Till I’m Too Old Too Die Young’ sung by Moe Bandy followed closely by ‘I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love’ with Paul Overstreet and Tanya Tucker.
2. What is my favorite dessert?  Homemade lemon meringue pie is my favorite.
3. What do I do when upset?  I usually call my sis in West Virginia and she listens to me cry and talk about it for however as long as it takes.  That is why sisters are so special.  They have known you all of your life and they love and understand you like no one else ever will.
4. What is my favorite pet?  I don’t have a pet but I appreciate the pets that my friends cherish.
5. Which do I prefer white or wheat bread?  I really prefer white bread but when my daughter is with me I feel obligated to buy wheat. 
6. What is my biggest fear?  My biggest fear was losing my husband to cancer.  That happened and I still have faith in God so I share my fears with Him.
7. What is my attitude mostly?  I try to have a positive attitude and greet each day with a big thank you.

10 random facts about me:

I have answered these so many different times through my blogging (7) years.  For my early blogging friends, just skip through these.

1. I would love to be able to sing but I can’t carry a tune in a bushel basket.
2. I  used to love to cook but it’s no fun anymore.
3. I had a long working career spanning almost 35 years, beginning with the telephone company and ending  in civil service at an AFB.
4. I have green eyes.
5. I met the love of my life in July, engaged in September and married in December.
6. I was born in Missouri.
7. So of course I am a huge St. Louis Cardinal fan.
8. I always wanted to be a beautician.
9. I get very emotional when I think of our troops in foreign countries.
10. I pray each day for peace on earth.

*******************************************************************************

I encourage anyone who wants to answer these question in a blog to do so.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

In case you didn’t know…

it’s still hot with no rain in sight!  I have been reading, cleaning closets, etc. just to keep busy as I stay inside with the air conditioner.  No relief in sight for at least 8 more days.

I had to make a store run early this morning as my bananas were too ripe to eat.  So, I made banana bread, 3 small loaves from Chef John’s recipe which is really good.

*****

Chef John’s Banana Bread

From All Recipes.com

 

INGREDIENTS:

cooking spray

3 ripe bananas

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup white sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon milk

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2.  Grease a 9x4 inch loaf pan.

3.  Mash bananas in a bowl.

4.  Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in another bowl.

5.  Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer or spatula in a large bowl until smooth.

6.  Stir in mashed bananas.

7.  Add eggs to the butter mixture one at a time, fully blending in each egg before adding the next.

8.  Stir in vanilla extract and milk.

9.  Stir in chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, and flour mixture until just incorporated.

10.  Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Tap pan on the counter to release any air pockets.

11  Bake in preheated oven for about 1 hour 10 minutes, or until an inserted wooden skewer comes out clean.

12  Let the bread rest in the pan for 15-20 minutes. Remove from pan. Slice and serve.

*****

One nice thing about an electric oven that is self cleaning, doesn’t heat up the kitchen.

Remember, Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

More oppressive heat..

in store for most of the nation for the next week.  Yesterday we had a thunderstorm with big booms that left us only a trace of rain.  Then boom it was gone and the sun was out again.  My WV sis reports massive power outages for several counties around them because of the tremendous thunderstorm that went through there Friday evening.  Their roof was damaged and because of the widespread claims they won’t have an adjuster to check the damage until July 9th.

I am just back from visiting the fruit/vegetable stand .  Below you see Georgia peaches and Arkansas tomatoes.

Don’t they look gorgeous.  My two tomato plants are so stressed I doubt if I will get a tomato from them.

I hope today is a peaceful one for you all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth