Hello …

Something strange is going on with WordPress.  They’ve made quite a few changes.  I’ll hopefully figure it out in the next day or two … or move my site.  This is not acceptable. 

 

Lesley Ann

 

New friends …

I’ve got new friends to add to the “farm”.  Two ducks showed up on the 15th of April and have decided to stay.  At least for now.  I purchased chopped corn and a bag of squirrel food.  They don’t like pumpkin seeds because that’s what is left all over the yard.  They seem to be quite happy.  If they stay for another few weeks … I’ll purchase a kiddie pool for them.

 

Hello God …

 

 Hello God, are you out there?
Can you hear me, are you listenin’ any more?
Hello God, if we’re still on speakin’ terms
Can you help me like before?
I have questioned your existence,
My resistance leaves me cold

Can you help me go the distance?
Hello God, hello, hello
This old world has gone to pieces
Can we fix it, is there time?
Hate and violence just increases
We’re so selfish, cruel and blind
We fight and kill each other
In your name, defending you
Do you love some more than others?
We’re so lost and confusedHello God, are you out there?
Can you hear us, are you listenin’ any more?
Hello God, if we’re still on speakin’ terms
Can you help us like before?
Oh, the free will you have given
We have made a mockery of
This is no way to be livin’,
We’re in great need of your love
Hello God

Hello God, can you grant us
Love enough to make amends
(Hello God) Is there still a chance
That we could start again
Hello God, we’ve learned our lesson
Dear God, don’t let us go
More than ever
Hello God, hello, hello
Hello God, we really need you
We can’t make it without you
(Hello God) We beseech you
In the name of all that’s true
Hello God, please forgive us
For we know not what we do

Hello God, give us one more chance to prove ourselves to you
Hello, God; hello, God

 

 

It’s windy out there …

We’ve had nothing but wind for the past week.  Winds ranging in the 60 mph zone!  This, of course, resulted in more power outages.  There are still homes without power projected through Sunday noon.  I thought I’d share some photos I took today instead of whining about the power outage again.    Enjoy …

Baby saying “Good morning”:

Baby eating his breakfast:

Samson enjoying some cream cheese in his Kong toy:

Miss Cleo twittering and shivering at the squirrel eating his breakfast:

Mister hiding in the sink so the goldfinches won’t see him:

Maybe this is a better vantage point:

Mister wishing the window was open:

When there’s no electricity …

I was without electricity for two night and almost three days. There are so many people, especially in Kentucky, who are still without it.  Their frustration level has to be at it’s peak.  I pray that they soon are with electricity and there are no more deaths because of it.  It is, at least, supposed to warm to 60 degrees by Saturday.  But, I think about the right now.  And right now it is 17 degrees and sunny at 2 p.m.

But really … the things you miss when there is no electricity. It makes me wonder how Laura Ingalls made it through life as well as she did. She must’ve been Wonder Woman in the flesh.  And she did it all in a dress!

Here are the objects I found important while without power:

Firstly, the “Tank Top Heater” attached to the Blue Rhino propane tank. Now, I know it says not to use this indoors but I had no choice. It worked fine although I only turned it on long enough to keep my lips from turning blue.  I continually checked for leaks and certainly did not use it while sleeping. 

 

Then, to keep my sanity,from left to right: 

1. flashlight
2. thermos of coffee from a beloved friend
3. money (just in case someone goes to the store for you)
4. Jif peanut butter (make sure it’s not on the recall list)
5. oil lamps
6. Bible an absolute must in any situation
7. Nintendo DS (you can use it as long as the battery is charged)
8. a little bit of knitting

  

and a beloved friend named Vickey. Everyone needs a friend like Vickey in their lives. I can’t say enough good things about her. I’ll get a photo of her later and make a post completely devoted to her.

The animals have the right idea:

Mister curls up with a blanket around him: 

Samson is under the electric blanket, although there is no electricity. It doesn’t matter to him … he’s warm just like it is.  No matter how warm it is in the house, he at least has to have his nose under a blanket or pillow.  It must be the “denning” instinct from his ancestors.

 

I hope you haven’t experienced power outages this winter. Keep in mind that it can happen at any time and be prepared! Thank God I was … except for the hot coffee in that beautiful, stainless steel thermos that was delivered to my door by my friend, Vickey. Sigh … it just doesn’t get any better than that.

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

There was about 6 inches of snow that fell on us on Tuesday night. Of course, I thought it was going to hit on Wednesday so I ran my errands on Tuesday evening. It took me about 1 and 1/2 hours to drive 23 miles home! It was a beautiful site. Breathtaking. Like being in a snow globe. I saw it as a blessing. My friend with me saw it as terror. I kept telling her that there was no need to worry, although my 4 wheel-drive doesn’t work. I asked God for protection and to get us home safely and I expected it to happen. And it did.

Here is a photo of the Autumnal decor that has yet to be removed. The little man has quite a bit of snow built up on his cute little hat:

 

This is the view from one of my windows:

Have a great day and keep as warm as you can …

Helpful coffee filters …

I received an email today listing some of the many uses of coffee filters.  Some I’ll use … some I’ll ignore.    I’m passing on the information hoping you’ll find a nifty, useful idea as well.  Have a great day!

Coffee filters .. who knew? And you can buy 1,000 for almost nothing at most stores.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. To apply shoe polish, ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line the pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping: poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Use strips of coffee filters instead of expensive strips to wax eyebrows.

13. Put a few in a plate to soak the grease from fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great “razor nick fixers.”

And of course, use them in your coffee pot!

Just some snow photos …

I needed to shovel a path on my front porch to get the newspaper and prepare for the mail carrier (No roof on front or back porches yet … I pray it will happen some day.  Very.  Soon.).  I tried to open the door … finally it opened and this is what I saw:

I finally got the porch partially cleared.  It is a very dry snow.  I used a broom on some of it.  I took a few photos while out there:

Then, before I went to use the shovel on the back porch, I stopped by the television to watch the weather report:

I am located in the center band where it says: 3″ – 5″ of snow and ice.  Mmm Hmmm … I’ve had enough.  I think it wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to shovel everywhere I needed to go.  Let’s hope I don’t run out of food.  If I have to shovel to my vehicle,  I’ll do it with tears running down my cheeks.  Maybe I’d better do my crying indoors … I don’t want my face to freeze!  That would be horrible. 

Scattergories …

A connection to Noolie Knits … and if you have time on Fridays … her Friday with Clover posts are darling!

Your Name - LesleyAnn 
Four letter word – lost
Boy name - LeRoy        
Girl name – Lori
Occupation – Lighthouse Keeper
Color – lavendar
Beverage – lemonade
Something found in a bathroom – lye soap (It took me forever to think of this one! lol  There is nothing else.)
A Place – Lithuania
Reason for being late - lazy
Food – lasagna
Something you shout - Lawdy Mercy! 

Just a quick note:  we’ve had more snow in West Virginia this year than in many years.  Woke up this mornin’ and saw at least three inches of snow  out there … I’ve not been out to shovel yet, so it might  be more.

Great Smoky Mountain Giveaway …

The postal carrier knocked on my door last evening and I immediately felt better!  lol  I knew what she was carrying: the Great Smoky Mountain Giveaway package.  My name was drawn in recognition of the 100th blog post of a wonderful lady named Toni.  Please be sure to check out her blog called Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The box contained this: 

It’s a sewn bag with a corded drawstring.  I’ve decided to use it to cover a quart jar, in which I’m going to grow a sweet potato like the one I read about at Chipmunknits.  I think her’s is lovely and I love the idea of a “cat safe” plant in case one decides to take a nip.

Then there was this:

It’s the sewn pear pincushion on the shelf.  It’s so pretty and matches my kitchen perfectly, as you can see below:

There was also a fantastic-smelling bar of handmade vanilla spice scented soap wrapped in a beautiful hand-knitted cloth.  It’s so pretty the way it is, I’m going to use it in the bathroom and smell it while I’m in the bath.    It’s awesome.  I wanted to eat it …

 As you can see, the color is perfect for my bathroom.  I’m also using the calendar in my bathroom.  It’s where I do my “thinking” and decide what I’m doing in the next few days.  lol  Miss Cleo usually sits in the window watching the squirrels and ‘possums and other wayward animals, as she was contemplating when I snapped the photo. 

Here is a collective picture of the package I received.  It shows the items listed above in addition to a 12-pack of Smoky Mountain postcards; a Smoky Mountain informative guide; a keychain with a photo of a darling black bear cub; four bookmarks that have already replaced the gum wrappers in various books I’m reading; and a Smoky Mountain cookbook containing some awesome and quite unique recipes.  Some of the recipes date back 100-plus years, even one from Thomas Jefferson’s notes.  I have found several recipes I will be making very soon.  I was so excited when I found a recipe for fried mush.  My daddy used to make it when I was young.  I salivate just thinking about it.  It’s not “fried mush” in the book … but it’s the same thing.

Miss Cleo couldn’t wait for her gift, either.

 She couldn’t get in the box until I opened both ends.  lol  She stayed in that box, rolling around, hiding and napping  for about an hour.  It will stay in the kitchen floor until she and Mister have ripped it apart.  They both love cardboard. 

 Miss Toni, I cannot thank you enough for brightening my day.  I will enjoy these treasures during my “forever” on this Earth.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.    And may God bless you every moment of your life.

There is harmony in my home …

Miss Cleo is totally intrigued with the pings and fizzes a semi-frozen Diet Rite can makes as it warms:

Samson and Mister are close enough pals that they can share a snooze:

What makes me most proud of this harmony?

Not a politician on this Earth has one thing to do with it.