HE'S STILL GOT IT

How cute is he standing there waving goodbye holding his little
brown lunch bag (with his name on it!) and his traditional
uniform (slacks & knit pullover shirt)? No, I didn't make him
wear a name tag too! He's teaching what our friend and fellow sub-teacher calls "the hoodlums". They've flunked & been kicked out of regular classes; this is the last chance class. There's between 5-10 students, a full-time aide & dad plus various administrative people, psychologists & specialists coming and going all the time. (A lot of resources thrown at them.) All the kids are on 'distant learning' computers....pretty much all day. So dad is somewhat frustrated because he wants to 'teach' these kids. The fellow who's class he's tending is 68 years old & somewhat 'doddery' according to the aide & the guy's wife! He broke his arm badly (pins, etc) & probably won't be back in the classroom for at least a couple of weeks. Which is good news for us in the $ dept. You get an extra $20 a day after 9 days in the same classroom; so here's hoping he has to have surgery or something! (I didn't say that!!! Well, at least I didn't really mean it. tsk) Dad says if he were in charge, he sure would change some things....but alas, they're just looking for credentials in the classroom & a babysitter.

BTW, saturday, the 25th has the potential of making our prayers come to fruition. The cash-carrying-California-buyers are coming to Payette to look at our house! Their agent says it fits the bill for their criteria! Don't stop the praying yet!!!!!

BUT....SHE'S SOOOO CUTE!

I know, those of you who are NOT pet people just don't get it! I am the visiting teacher to Mary. Mary has 2 white schnauzers (mom & dad) & they had their 4th litter....it was an oops, but she had 7 puppies, all white. They're rather rare. She sells them for at least $500 each, (& they're usually all pre-sold) so that took care of that for us! Well, with the recent economic down turn, folks started backing out and so she made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Dad said okay, calling it my Christmas/birthday present. Fine with me. Opie growled slightly at first, but when the treats came out....Well, hey, how bad could she be?! He's forgotten he was the interloper for Charlie 11 years ago! Aunt Sally went with me to pick her up & then we went shopping for puppy food & Sally found a 'princess bed' for her & got a haircut (hated it)! Already spoiled rotten! But as I've always said, "it's okay to spoil your pets, cause they don't have to grow up & be responsible citizens!" Don't you think Sally looks good with a puppy?

So I guess you'll be checking out mental institutions for me...what with the snake thing & now a puppy! Yeah, bout midnight tonight I'll be saying "what the he_ _ was I thinking?" BUT SHE'S SOOOO CUTE!

60's DEAD HEADS aka CANCUN CHIQUITAS

It had to happen! The 'Cancun Chiquitas' cannot go long without a party! Rhonda's birthday was the perfect excuse this time & since she's a 'WILD CHILD OF THE 60's', tye dye's were mandatory! We partied at Alice Cooper's restaurant in Phoenix. (That's his cardboard cutout)

You all know how long Sally has been in my life (54 years!) & I love her like a sister. Don't want to know what life would be like without her in it. Feel the same way about Rhonda & Maxine. These three women are truly my sisters; we love each other without judgment & with tremendous support. Each of us have had our trials in life (everyone does), they are not borne alone. I KNOW we promised to find each other when we got down here to earth, it just took a little longer to catch up to Maxine & Rhonda! Girlfriends are the salve of life & a good belly laugh when needed. May I encourage you to nurture your friendships whether they are blood or adopted; & keep looking! You may find that eternal friend that's been looking for you too! (btw, Nancy made the t-shirts for all of us! Soon she'll have on-line store.)

SNAKES, REALLY BIG SNAKES

It's not like I planned it for days or even MINUTES! They started pulling them out & they kept coming & coming...all 15 feet EACH of them. Mr. Bananas (guess which one he is), & Squeezee; boa constrictors both.
Perhaps you already know I have ALWAYS had an unnatural fear of any kind of snake...ALL my life!

Couldn't even peruse an encyclopedic photo or drawing of reptiles. I would go into white-out mode. IOW, I wouldn't see it! Everything would go white & I would have to fight the urge to faint.
I have been working on it for many years. Told myself over and over these are also our Heavenly Father's creatures & he did not make a mistake! So the day has come for me to face my fear straight on. I said nothing of my intention to anyone, wasn't sure I could actually do it. Paige wanted to go into the enclosure, so I said I would go with her, much to the shock of Dad & Sally.
No, they're NOT slimy or cold; feel a lot like a slicker raincoat, smooth. (never pet them against their scales, they don't like it). I allowed them to slither around my foot & Squeezee came up to my face, tongue flickering. I am amazed & proud of my accomplishment.

Moral of the story? We can overcome nearly ANYTHING in time, has taken me 65 years! CAVEAT here: NO, I will NOT willingly pick up or touch another snake, particularly wild ones. I believe my courage was largely based on their tameness, size, the fact they are touched by humans on a daily basis & they aren't very fast movers. Oh yeah, I also kissed a camel (named Humphrey, what else would you name him?) & a giraffe on the lips, thank you! They give you carrot sticks & suggest if you want a kiss to put the carrot in your mouth (sticking out) & they will come get it and give

you a kiss in the process!

I MUST HAVE BEEN OUT OF MY MIND THAT ENTIRE DAY!!!!!

The picture to the left is of the famous Montezuma castle....cliff dwellers. They lived there for 300 years, used ladders to get up and down. Fascinating people. They think they left because there was a drought.

SHEILA, KIM, DUTCH BABIES, ET AL

Try as a I might, I just couldn't help but be a bit braggadocios about the dutch baby created this breakfast morning! It was curled ever so loverly up the sides of the gigantic cast iron skillet (the ONLY proper receptacle for such a work of art!) It fed 4 adults and one child with leftovers & was savored by all present. Speaking of whom: Aunt Sheila, Kim & g'daughter Jaslyn are here for a few days visit; Jaslyn is Jeremy's step daughter. He & his family (Jessica, step-son Jeffrey, Jaslyn & new baby boy Joshua) are all moving to Hawaii monday. Sheila & Kim (aka KASH) did the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque this week, visiting us to & from the event. We MAY go next year IF....well you know the IF! If we're singing "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN".

HIDE THE RAZOR BLADES!

Dad's going back to teaching! He had his interviews today & received his certificate. So now he's says (in his own words) "anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof" waiting for his first call! Not scared, just excited! He's signed up to sub teach from 5th grade up, including special ed kids. (Piece of cake for him! They have two aides, a teacher and 5 students!) Easy, schmezy! The earliest he'll get a call is the week of Oct 20 because next week is 'fall break', no school. We may hit the short road to Puerto Penasco, Mexico (Rocky Point) for a few days. We can park right on the Sea of Cortez, put a few shrimp on the barby & relax. So we'll get some sun, sea and rest and get ready for the election. Also, gas only cost $2 a gallon there, so we'll fill up & bring it home! Still have great faith in the Lord to help us when we truly need Him & have handed over the worry about selling the Payette house. We've lowered the price again yesterday. Our agent says they're selling houses, a portion are 'short sells and repos', but regular buyers are looking some too. The house is in great condition thanks to dad's hard work this summer; just need the right family & IT WILL HAPPEN!! Keep praying!

CANNING BUTTER?

Friend, Maxine came by today to borrow one of my shawls for her sister-in-law's funeral. (It's a lovely grey shawl with beading & fringe; will look great with her black dress...accessorizing is so important!) She also brought me a 'recipe' for CANNING BUTTER. This issue came up recently while discussing food storage during these tough economical times. I had not heard of canning butter, but am open to the idea that I wouldn't have to eat my whole wheat pancakes/rolls/waffles, etc. without the most necessary, butter! So I submit for your perusal & consideration the following:

*HOW TO CAN BUTTER*

1. Any butter can be used but the higher quality butters will be easier to work with. There isn't as much separation.

2. One pound of butter is a little more than a pint, so it is easy to figure out how many one pint jars you will need. (a pint's a pound, the world around!)

3. First, clean your jars thoroughly & put them in an oven at 250' for about 30 minutes. Put your rings and lids in a small pot of water & simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Next, melt the butter slowly until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat & simmer for five min.

5. Then pour the melted butter into the hot jars, making sure you keep the butter stirred so that it doesn't separate; leaving about 1/2 inch space at the top of the jars.

6. Clean the tops of the jars with a cloth & put on the lids & rings. Tighten securely.

7. As the jars start to cool you will need to shake them several times. It isn't a necessary step but the butter will look much better if you do.

8. When the jars are cool and SEALED, put them in your storage. They should keep for 3 or 4 years if kept cool & dark.

So, have you ever heard of or actually done this? If so, tell us about it please. Don't want to waste my favorite fat, but am willing to stash the greasy delight in jars if it really works.

RETURN TO VIRTUE

Her 'return to virtue' talk reminded me of an Alexander Pope quote I heard many years ago in a R.S. lesson taught by LeAnn Mitchell in Springfield: "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace." Sadly, it is too true today, even tho written over 250 years ago.

COMEUPPANSE!

I remember it well! We were motorhoming east, south of Gilroy, CA when the verdict was to be announced. We pulled over, cranked up the antenna, turned on the tv & watched in disbelief as OJ Simpson was acquited of murdering his wife, Nicole & her friend , Ronald Goldman. I took it personally and cried for the next 100 miles. Injustice for those two victims and their families. But the salt in the wound was this man's arrogance & how he manipulated the 'system'. The jury, who when presented with the truthful evidence said they would have convicted. When he was found guilty in civil court, he set about to make sure he would never pay a dime of the award to the families. I always knew he would 'get his' someday.... but probably at the Lord's judgment seat....but now we have relief here on earth! EVERYONE knows he's a murderer & arrogance won't help him much behind bars. It took 13 years, TO THE DAY, but justice reigns. Don't drop the soap, OJ.