Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Trick or Treaters

Fun with costumes!



Costume

With all the intense politics going on right now, both locally and nationally, it's a relief to indulge in some Halloween silliness. Our only "trick-or-treaters" tonight were our 80-year-old neighbor who was costumed as a white bird of unknown species and her daughter who was the designated driver, thank goodness. I don't think Miss M. could see very well through her mask.

I should explain that we live about ten miles out of town and a quarter-mile off the highway. We never get trick-or-treaters here, but we always buy some candy just in case. Or at least, that's our excuse for buying some candy.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Plastic Flamingos' Swan Song

Some Interesting News...



Plastic FlamingoIt's the end of an era. The little factory in Leominster, Massachusetts, where the pink plastic flamingo was invented in 1957 has come upon hard times and is going out of business.

If you own one of these birds, you should check whether it was made by Union Products, Inc. If it's a Union Products flamingo, it will probably become highly collectible, and perhaps you should even keep it safe from thieves!

Union Products Inc. stopped producing flamingos and other lawn ornaments at its Leominster factory in June, and is going out of business Nov. 1 — a victim of rising expenses for plastic resin and electricity, as well financing problems.

The small privately held firm has been in talks with a pair of rival lawn ornament makers interested in buying the molds and resuming production of the flamingos, designed in 1957 by local son Don Featherstone.

"We think the flamingo will go on," Keith Marshall, Union Products' chief financial officer, said at the company's aging brick factory, where just a few years ago more than 100 employees churned out flamingos by the millions.

Quoted from "Pink plastic flamingo faces extinction"
Associated Press by Mark Jewell
Sun Oct 29, 2006

I have never owned a pink plastic flamingo, but I find them mildly amusing. Someone along Country Club Lane in Hopkinsville has a flock of them. They move around on the lawn. It's kind of interesting to see where they'll be next. I'm sure they do most of their moving when it's time to mow the grass.

Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, paid tribute to the infamous bird that has been immortalized everywhere -- from the John Waters' movie Pink Flamingos, to bachelor parties and lawns across America.

"Let's face it," he said. "As iconic emblems of kitsch, there are two pillars of cheesy, campiness in the American pantheon. One is the velvet Elvis. The other is the pink flamingo."

Quoted from "RIP: Pink Flamingo, 1957-2006"
South Florida Sun Sentinel by Charlyne Varkonyi Schaub
October 20 2006


Personally, I would so much rather have a pink plastic flamingo than a velvet Elvis.

_________________

More about pink plastic flamingos:
JaneyZee's Flamingo Pages: The Pretty Pink Plastic Flamingo
Pink Flamingos: So Tacky Yet So Cool

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Autumn on a Backroad

Life in Christian County, Kentucky... More About Trees and Plants...



Fall foliage
Fall foliage, mostly maples.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Holsteins at Pasture

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...





I'd better post this photo as it's rapidly going out of season. I took this about two weeks ago, and the white flowers in this pasture have been frosted now.

With a few more Holsteins standing broadside, maybe a few Hampshire pigs, a U.S. flag flying on top of the silo, and the name of the farm painted on one of the barns, I can imagine this farm scene painted in Charles Wysocki style.

HHS Choir at Alhambra Theatre

Alhambra Theatre in Hopkinsville, KY



Alhambra TheatreAlhambra Theatre in Hopkinsville, KY.
I tried to hold steady, but needed a tripod.

The Hopkinsville High School advanced choir (including Isaac) had a busy weekend of performances at the Alhambra Theatre in Hopkinsville. They performed twice on Friday and again on Saturday night.

Alhambra Theatre interiorRestored interior of the Alhambra
The show was"100 Years Of Broadway," and it featured "music from Tin Pan Alley to state-of-the-art, contemporary Broadway... a glimpse of our history and the trials and triumphs that Americans have endured for a century." (quoted from the showbill.)

The two shows on Friday were for elementary and middle school music classes . The show on Saturday night was for the general public, and Dennis and I attended with Keely and her boyfriend Taurus. It's always exciting to visit the Alhambra; it has a dramatic Arabian Nights atmosphere.

Hopkinsville High School ChoirIsaac steps to the front.
The performance was great! Many of the choir members had short solos. Isaac and two of his "friend girls" sang The Ballad of Sweeney Todd . I was so impressed with all the beautiful young voices.

The HHS advanced choir has been invited to represent the state of Kentucky at Jamestown's 400th Anniversary in Virginia next spring. This weekend's performances were fundraisers for that trip.

The Hopkinsville High School Choir has a long history of excellence. It was directed by Barbara Felts for about 30 years. When Ms. Felts retired several years ago, Rebecca May became the director. Ms. May had a hard act to follow, but she has made the kids work hard, insisted on their best, and earned their respect and affection.

Isaac's soloIsaac's solo
It has always been an award-winning choir, and they have always taken trips to compete and perform. When Keely was in advanced choir during her senior year, they went to Chicago to perform at an invitational competition. She still remembers that trip as a highlight of her senior year. The trip to Jamestown will be like that for Isaac.

I have talked about the advanced choir, but the choir program also includes two freshman choirs, the intermediate choir, and the chamber ensemble (a small group that performs a capello.) Isaac is a bass in chamber as well as advanced choir. I love the fact that this great choir program exists in a public school.

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Alhambra TheatreOne last look at the Alhambra

Friday, October 27, 2006

Sunshine and Rain

Life in Christian County, Kentucky... Christian and Lutheran Life...



It's another gray, wet day here. It rained hard early this morning and more rain is forecast for the day. The little streambed that was just a wrinkle on the meadow a few days ago is now full and overflowing.

A few days ago


This morning

The title I gave this post, "Sunshine and Rain," reminded me of the plaque that hung on the wall of our home when I was growing up:

What God Hath Promised

God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labourer,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.

"There hath not failed one word of all His good promise."
I Kings 8:56

How can I quote this so perfectly? Two reasons. First, the little poem is quoted from the hymn, "What God Hath Promised," and second, the plaque is hanging in my kitchen!

Hey, y'all. Have a great day!

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Thursday, October 26, 2006

Vultures at Rest

Life in Christian County, Kentucky... More About Birds and Animals...



BuzzardsA group of about ten turkey buzzards was resting in these trees near a little stream, but when they saw me, all except these two flew away.

I had never really thought of buzzards flying south in flocks, but we've been seeing them in large groups lately. When we drove over to Harvest Praise through the hills and trees, we saw a flock of about 20 turkey buzzards resting on one of the big metal towers that carries major electrical cables. Dennis and I agreed that we'd never before seen that many buzzards hanging out together.

I did a brief bit of research tonight to see if they migrate in flocks, and while I didn't find anything that clearly states their migratory practices, I did find some references to flocks of migrating turkey vultures flying over. For example, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Weekender Report for October 18-31, 2006, states the following:
Meanwhile, Diann MacRae of the Olympic Vulture Study, continues to receive reports of turkey vultures coming through on their fall migration southward. Groups of the birds reported seen around the area during September included the following: 30 between Rochester and Elma; 20 spiraling over the Elwa River; 7 at Bottle Beach; 5 at Brady Loop; 32 near Tenino; 36 on the Enumclaw plateau; 7 over Olympia; 22 over the Tahuya area; 16 over Eatonville; 7 soaring over Tokeville; and 6 at the Port Angeles Airport.

Audubon's buzzardsTurkey Vultures, by
John Jacob Audubon
I hope the large flocks of vultures we're observing this fall aren't grouping up and leaving early because they sense a bad winter coming!

Related posts:
Buzzards Along The Road
Uniting organisations to save vultures
Buzzards Resting in the Trees

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Vivid Orange

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...





Lke Wilbur in Charlotte's Web, these pumpkins are ~"radiant"~! Their rich warm colors lift my spirits on this dark, damp day. They're selling for $1.98 each at WalMart. Their minor imperfections are offset by their jumbo size.

I have been thinking about baking a pumpkin custard (pumpkin pie filling baked without a crust.) I like to make it with canned pumpkin puree (rather than ready-made pumpkin pie filling.) I use the recipe on the Libby's pumpkin can and make it a little spicier. I will probably use a blend of sugar and Splenda to reduce the calories yet a little more.

I've learned that pumpkins from your own garden are great for jack-o-lanterns, but it takes a lot of time and messy work to pick a pumpkin from the vine and convert it to a pie. Now that my kids are past the Halloween stage, I'm happy to buy a few cans of pumpkin puree at the store instead of raising my own.

Update: I did bake it, and it was good. :)

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Pennysaver Market at Fairview, KY

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...



Pennysaver Pennysaver Market at Fairview, KY
We've seen a lot of growth in the Mennonite community of eastern Christian County in the 15 years we've lived here.

A Mennonite church and a second school have been built near us. The Fairview Produce Auction was founded about eight years ago, and it sells bulk produce five or six days a week during the growing season.

Numerous home businesses have opened -- two harness shops, a bicycle shop, sawmills, a book store, a quilt shop, a cabinet shop, several greenhouses, and repair shops for tractors, farm equipment, lawn mowers, and chainsaws. This list is just a sampler of of the many local Mennonite enterprises, not a complete directory!

The Mennonite-owned Pennysaver Market (above photo) at Fairview has opened just this week. Located across the highway from the Produce Market, it has excellent potential of getting a lot of local "English" business as well as Mennonite.

Dennis and I drove over there this morning to see what they had. I was hoping for lots of bulk foods, like the Amish store at Guthrie, but I was disappointed They do have a few items in bulk, such as oatmeal, flour and some baking ingredients, but not nearly as much variety as I wanted to find. When I get a chance, I'm going to tell the store's owner.

Their inventory is similar to what you might see in any small grocery store -- canned goods, bread, soap powders, trash bags, etc. In the back of the store, there are several coolers, including one with big cheeses. They'll cut off a chunk in any size you want.

I think that possibly this store is concentrating more on the conventional grocery items because there's a bulk food store all ready in the neighborhood. It's been built on the back side of a large old house where a Mennonite couple lives, and it's not advertised at all. In fact, I know about it only because a Mennonite neighbor recommended it to me.

I used to go over there sometimes to buy flour, pastas, and other stuff in bulk. The lady who keeps the store was always gracious to me, but I felt a little out-of-place because very few "English" people go there. I haven't been over there for several years now.

The Pennysaver is clearly open for all comers, and that's why I was hoping it would stock more bulk items. But even if it doesn't, I'm glad it's there. At a little less than five miles from our house, it's our nearest grocery store.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Eat Vegetables, Stay Sharp

Some Interesting News...



Vitamin E-rich vegetables could slow cognitive decline
Decision News Media by Stephen Daniells
October 24, 2006


Eating about three portions of green leafy, yellow and cruciferous vegetables every day could slow loss of mental function as we age by 40 per cent, suggests a new study.

"Compared to people who consumed less than one serving of vegetables a day, people who ate at least 2.8 servings of vegetables a day saw their rate of cognitive change slow by roughly 40 percent," said study author Martha Clare Morris, ScD, with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

"This decrease is equivalent to about five years of younger age,” she said. (Source)

SaladI like only a few cooked vegetables, but I could happily eat a big salad for supper every night. I like a salad with a mixture of raw vegetables, several kinds of greens, and a little shredded cheese, boiled egg, or chopped chicken breast or ham.

My husband is a skinny guy who can eat anything and never gain weight, and he wants something more substantial than salad for supper. He wants cooked vegetables, potatoes, and meat, and he'd love to have some rolls or cornbread with it. If he's going to eat something raw, he'd rather eat fruit than vegetables.

Supper is the main meal that I cook each day. I don't enjoy my kitchen enough to prepare two meals for supper, so I usually fix the sort of food Dennis wants. I should be eating the big salad, though. It would be a much healthier meal for me for various reasons.

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Seen on Long Pond Road

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...



Long Pond Road

I assume that this is the Long Pond that Long Pond Road is named for, but I don't know for sure. At any rate, it was looking beautiful in the morning light, so I stopped on the bridge, got out of my car, and snapped this photo. Traffic on Long Pond Road is just occasional and it's traveled by as many farm vehicles and Amish buggies as cars and trucks, so it's possible to do things like that.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Harvest Praise at the Christian Way Farm

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...



Christian County, KYYesterday, we went to Harvest Praise, an annual fall event at the Christian Way Farm in northeast Christian County, KY. It's about a dozen miles north of us as the crow flies, but it's a half-hour drive through the hills via the winding roads. It was a clear, cool October day, and the foliage is probably at its peak in color right now.

At the farm, they have a corn maize, pumpkin patch, hayrides, haybale castle, and much to see and admire -- farm animals, old time farming tools and vehicles, craft demonstrations, live music and much more. It's good family fun, enjoyable for all ages. We arrived early in the day, but the farm was crowded with people before long.

Some photos of the event follow, and there was much more that I didn't photograph! I should have got some pictures of folks enjoying the hayrides and the corn maize, particularly -- "shoulda, but didn't."

Harvest PraiseHarvest Praise

Vintage farm vehicles are parked around the barnyard, with steps up into them and things in back for kids to enjoy.


Harvest Praise

Harvest Praise

The barn is used as a souvenir shop, and behind it is an area for resting and enjoying the live music -- empty when we arrived, but crowded later on.

Harvest PraiseHarvest Praise
Both antique and modern farm tools are displayed around the barnyard, including an old horse-drawn corn planter (above left). A hand-operated corn sheller appears in the background of the photo on left, and again at right. It's one of a group of old-time corn shellers. The kids have lots of fun running ears of corn through them and then feeding the corn kernels to the animals.

Harvest PraiseHarvest Praise
The Harvest Praise event gives kids lots of chances to play in the hay. The trike track was frosty when we first arrived. I noticed that it was very popular with pre-schoolers later in the day. The older kids had a "hay-day" in the haybale castle which can be climbed on as well as crawled through!

Harvest PraiseHarvest Praise
One of the Boy Scout troops was selling hot dogs, s'more kits, and marshmallows to cook over their bonfire. A church group was running a food stand with (I think) chicken and tenderloin sandwiches also.

Harvest Praise

The mums were available for purchase, as were gourds, squash, pumpkins, handmade baskets, and other crafts and seasonal items. Parents seemed to enjoy showing their toddlers the cattle, goats, pigs and sheep.

The Christian Way Farm does school tours during the fall and spring as well as their big "Harvest Praise" event. A teacher friend told me that they choose a theme, such as "How Do We Get a Pizza" and show the kids how the meats, cheeses, herbs, grains, etc. are produced on farms. The kids also get to enjoy the maze and other activities and they can have a nice picnic lunch on the tables.

I'm sure the children who visit the Christian Way Farm sleep very well after a day of running around in the fresh air. I certainly did!

Christian County, KY

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Beautiful Needlework

Blogs and Blogging...



Debbie R., a lady from Texas, has posted some lovely photos of embellishments in her needlework blog, "Needle Lil More Time to Sew". Many of her embellishments appear to be fancy bits on crazy quilts. If you enjoy needlework, you'll find her blog and archives interesting and inspiring.

In her posts for mid-October, she talks about making a "hussif" -- that is, a housewife, an old-time sewing kit that men carried with them when they traveled or went off to war. I think her hussif is a little more feminine and fancified than the utilitarian models that were stuffed into the saddlebags of wayfarers.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Golden Pond

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...



Golden PondGolden Pond picnic area at Land Between The Lakes

This picnic area in Land Between the Lakes (LBL) was beautiful in the sunlight this afternoon. Maybe the autumn foliage in this area is the reason that a little village near here was once called Golden Pond.

In 5th grade (1961-62?), we read in our Social Studies books about the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) bringing electricity to Kentucky and Tennessee. We didn't read about or think about the farms that were lost, the towns like Golden Pond that were torn down, or the people who were displaced by this project.

The LBL area went from private ownership to public land gradually. First, the TVA built a dam on the Tennessee River, and Kentucky Lake formed when the dam's was completed in 1944.

In 1959, the U.S. Corp of Engineers began construction of a dam on the Cumberland River to create a second lake. The Cumberland River runs nearly parallel to the Tennessee River. The area that would lie between the lakes, an 8-mile wide, 40-mile long strip, was designated a federal recreation area in 1964,. The dam on the Cumberland was completed in 1965, creating Lake Barkley. The Corp also built a canal at the north end of LBL that links the two lakes.

The village of Golden Pond was in the very heart of the condemned area between the lakes. Its 200 residents were moved out and the buildings were razed. Its name was made the address of LBL's visitors center -- Golden Pond, Kentucky, 42211-- but none of the facilities that are called "Golden Pond" are located in the original location of the village.

The nice picnic area in the photo above is the site of the Golden Pond historic marker. The Golden Pond Visitors Center holds an exhibit about the moonshine that was produced in the Golden Pond area during Prohibition. The Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory is located nearby.

We went to the observatory and looked through the big telescope one night when we were camping at LBL several years ago. It's the only time I've ever looked through a telescope that I had to climb steps to get to. I saw with amazing clarity the immense craters on the surface of the moon. It was an awesome sight.

I don't personally know anyone whose land was taken away from them by the creation of LBL. I have heard about residents who fought bitterly to keep family lands and ancestral homes, and I have heard that they are still angry about their loss. I don't blame them.

I do realize though that the inexpensive electricity running through my home is provided by the TVA. I also know that many of my neighbors go regularly to LBL to fish nearly year-round. I think we're sorry about what was done to create LBL, but we do enjoy the benefits of living nearby.

-----

Note: Land Between the Lakes is not in Christian County. It's about a half hour drive from the western border of Christian County.

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Old Photo


Blogs and Blogging...



I wrote a blog post last August titled "Getting The Mail." It was about the interest that the daily mail brought to our lives while I was growing up, and at the end of the post, I mentioned that somewhere I had an old photo of me opening our mailbox.

I happened to find that photo this evening while I was looking for a different one, so I've uploaded it to the "Getting The Mail" post. I mention this particularly for the Heeler who had written in his comment, "Like to see the brownie photo though."

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Harleys For Young and Old

All In The Family... Another Trip Down Memory Lane...



Isaac, my 17-year-old, hates Harley Davidsons. "They're old people's bikes," he rants. "Cars without a roof!"

I'm surprised he has such a low opinion of Harley Davidsons. I think that Harley Davidson was the first motorcycle name I ever knew. My father spoke of them reverently. I realize now that he had probably always wanted one.

When I was in high school, my dad bought me my own little 65cc Harley Davidson as a reward for a summer of working in the hayfield. I had a lot of fun riding it all over the ranch for several years until I absolutely wore it out! I don't seem to have a photo of myself on it -- just one of Mary Ann Huff riding it. Anyway, that little bike is the main reason that I have an affection for the Harley Davidson name to this day.

Isaac objects to the fat, plush look of the modern Harley Davidsons he sees people riding. He doesn't like saddlebags and windshields. He prefers a simpler bike with just the bare essentials, or if it's going to be fancy, he wants the chopper look.

I've told Isaac that when Peter Fonda made the great chopper classic, "Easy Rider", his Captain America bike was a modified Harley. Isaac hasn't seen the movie, so this means nothing to him. He says that "Easy Rider" was a long time ago and nowadays, Harleys are for soft old geezers.

Harley puzzleIsaac may be right. I saw at the store today that Harley Davidson puzzles are available for those who would rather do a nice jigsaw than roar down the highway getting bugs in their teeth. That would be me.

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Autumn Colors of the Pin Oak

More About Trees and Plants...



Pin oak leavesPin oak leaves
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Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Peace Park in Hopkinsville

Life in Christian County, Kentucky... History and Old Stuff...



Peace ParkPeace Park in Hopkinsville, KY


Peace Park looked inviting in the sunshine today. It lays right across the train tracks from the railroad station on East 9th Street. At one time, a tobacco warehouse stood here and many pounds of tobacco were loaded through its doors onto the passing trains. Here's the text of the Peace Park historic marker (visible at center in the photo above):

Bequest to city of Hopkinsville with funds for beautification and maintenance by John C. Latham of New York, a native of Hopkinsville. A generous and forgiving gift. Mr. Latham was owner of a large tobacco warehouse on this site that was destroyed, when burned by Night Riders, disgruntled tobacco growers, Dec. 8, 1907. The next year death came to Mr. Latham.


John Latham gave the city another large lot nearby to be made into a park in memory of his mother. It became Virginia Park and it has a nice little stone bandstand and a similar stone wall around it. Hopkinsville Nostalgia has two vintage postcards of Virginia Park: a 1920's image with the bandstand and another undated image.

Around the Swope Park area of Kansas City, MO, there are many stone walls that were built in the early 1900's, my husband tells me. Nearer to home, the Jefferson Davis Historic Site at Fairview, Kentucky, is surrounded by a stone wall. Construction of the tower was completed in 1924, and presumably the stone wall was built around that time as well.

Stone walls were popular in public landscaping in those days, and the wisdom of the investment is seen in the fact that the walls are still in good condition and lovely to behold, many years later. I wonder if today's popular vinyl fencing will be holding up this well after a century or so of exposure to the elements!

Jefferson Davis State Historic SiteJefferson Davis State Historic Site

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Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Wet October Day

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...



Wet day in the woodsA wet October day in the woods

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Winning Spam Concoction

Some Interesting News... And What I Think About It...



The winning entry of the State Fair of Texas’ Great American Spam Championship was spam-stuffed mushrooms. Mmmm. Doesn't that sound yummy? (Not to me, but maybe to you?!) I did enjoy the great comment that one of the judges made:

Judge John Maloney said the key to catching his attention is simple.

“I don’t like dishes to try to hide the Spam,” said Maloney, the owner of a Dallas advertising agency. “I won’t tolerate it. I like dishes that celebrate the Spam.”

Read the rest of the story.


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Vintage Clothing Hoard

History and Old Stuff...



If you have any interest in vintage clothing, you'll enjoy reading this unique story about a huge collection of designer clothing that spans 50 years of fashion. The valuable garments were bought and stored unworn by a wealthy woman who suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Her lifetime collection of clothing has been purchased by a vintage clothing store in Los Angeles and it's attracting a lot of attention from movie costumers and celebrities.

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Electronic Addictions

Excessive use of the internet



Drudge is linking today to an article about internet addicts. A Stanford University study says that 1/8 of the U.S. population uses the internet excessively. The "typical addict is a single white male who spends approximately 30 hours a week surfing the net." (Source)

I wonder about a couple of things.
1.) What role does pornography play in internet addiction? How about online games? Surely no one is addicted to blogging.
2.) Do scientists label the folks who watch television for 30 hours a week "addicts"? (I think a lot of people do log that much television time!)

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Monday, October 16, 2006

Forsythia in Autumn

More About Trees and Plants...



Fall forsythia


Rain is falling in the Kentucky Pennyrile today, and the skies are gray. Despite the gloomy day, my forsythia bush is looking pretty with burgundy foliage and bright blossoms. I like its autumn look.

In the spring, every branch of the entire shrub is intensely, completely yellow. In fact, my eyes don't even enjoy that much bright yellow, except as a statement that spring has arrived. In autumn, its sprinkle of blossoms isn't so overpowering.

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Sunday, October 15, 2006

A New Kitten

All In The Family...



Happy, the catI'll start with the sad part. Last May, our old tomcat, Happy, was run over and killed by a car. It happened the day after I wrote about him playing like a kitten. He was a member of our family for 12 years and my children's dear childhood playmate. We still miss him and will always remember him as an affectionate and very mellow cat.

Of course, Little Miss Skittles is the only cat we need (just ask her), but this fall we began thinking that we could get a kitten. Then Isaac came home from school last week talking about five little kittens who need homes. The mama cat was run over on the highway, and Isaac's friend is taking care of the kittens.

You already know the rest of the story. We drove over there Tuesday, and before I even parked the car, Isaac hopped out and disappeared into the house. A few minutes later, he came out with a fuzzy white kitten ( white except a few small patches of light tan) It purred most of the way home. Unless a better name becomes apparent very soon, we're going to call him Casper.

Casper the kittenI have tried and tried to take Casper's picture, but I need a faster camera or maybe a strobe! Here's what happens:
1.) I push the button to take the picture.
2. ) Casper does a quick aboutface and shows his fluffy little backside instead of his face. Or he bounces completely out of the viewfinder. Or, he attacks the camera!
3.) The flash goes off and another strange photo is made.

Skittles doesn't like Casper at all. We've limited their contact to times when we're there to supervise. Both times that they've had a close encounter (face to face, about four feet apart), Skittles hissed and growled in a menacing, dangerous voice, and Casper was terribly frightened.

Isaac, interpreting for Skittles, says she's outraged that another cat has moved into her house and she can't understand why the people don't do something about it! So we are trying to reassure her that she's still loved and properly revered.

Casper the kittenCasper had been surviving on Kitten Chow since he lost his mother. His little teeth are hardly strong enough to crunch it. He seemed awfully thin to me, so I made a batch of "Franny Syufy's About.com Kitten Glop Recipe," and he became a fat little butterball after just a couple days of eating it. He seems to be digesting it without any problems.

Franny Syufy's Kitten Glop
Here's the recipe as I used it:

2 tablespoons real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 small bottle pureed baby food meat (chicken in chicken gravy)
2-1/2 cups fresh goat milk (in a carton from WalMart's milk coolers)
1/2 cup water
1 package plain gelatin

Blend mayonnaise, yogurt, and pureed meat in a small bowl. Gradually add 1/2 cup milk, mixing until smooth. Set aside. Boil the water and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved, two or three minutes. Stir in 2 cups milk. Then add the mayonnaise mixture and blend well. Pour into a refrigerator container and chill. To serve, dip out a spoonful and let it come to room temperature (or set it over a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.) Don't microwave it or it will kill the yoghurt's microorganisms. The original recipe says it can be kept up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or frozen.

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Saturday, October 14, 2006

Seen on Friday, the 13th

Life in Christian County, Kentucky... History and Old Stuff...



Random images from a random sort of day--


Board fence
Wandering around behind the Valvoline oil changing station, I saw this board fence framed by foliage. Meanwhile, my car enjoyed a refreshing change of motor oil and a replenishment of its other vital fluids.

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Old doors
These aged doors are part of a building that sits behind the Citgo parking lot in Crofton, Kentucky. Crofton is a small town about a dozen miles north of Hopkinsville, and it's the epitome of a "whistle stop". The front of this building is on Crofton's main street and it faces the train tracks that pass right through the center of town.

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Doughnuts
These doughnuts were abandoned in front of the deli counter at the grocery store -- evidence that someone's dietary conscience faced down his/her tastebuds and won.

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Bean field

This is just another soybean field in Christian County with a handsome set of Mennonite farm buildings in the background.

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CONTENTMENT: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry, live simply, expect little, give much, sing often, pray always, forget self, think of others and their feelings, fill your heart with love, scatter sunshine. These are the tried links in the golden chain of contentment.
(Author unknown)

IT IS STILL BEST to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasure; and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.
(Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867-1957)

Thanks for reading.