The oldest screamer is back after a week in KY with family. I missed him, something fierce...for the first few days...then the youngest and myself settled into a nice quiet daily routine. The spouse disturbed us when he came in early from work, but other than that minor inconvenience the little and I were quite content to spend the day by ourselves.
It was a nice study in compatibility. I now see exactly where the tension comes from in this house. Well, not all of it...but a some of it. The oldest screamer lives life at full speed ahead, much like his momma. Unfortunately, this leads to power struggles, pert opinions and a sassy mouth...I really do try to control myself with the opinions and sass but feel that as the parent I have the right to power, right? ;P
Thursday was the most interesting day of the week. Ladies sewing 'class', a newcomer to the class and my strange opinions of our new Obama-nation. Throw in my not-so-popular theories on Micheal Phelps and pot (hey, who am I to condemn a 23yr old for experimenting with a mild mind altering substance...there are WAY worse things out there) and it made for a lively debate on the state of our country, why she (the newcomer) is in for a massive surprise when her 8yr old daughter gets older and how I would handle my own children toking. Let's just say that I don't think she much cared for my opinions. I sure missed my boy then...not that he would have a clue but the debate would have been much more interesting with my 5yr old son than it was with this sheeple.
Did you know, for instance, that the government would not do anything to make us raise our children in a manner that we don't agree with?
OH REALLY!! (sheeple, I cough discreetly) Heard of the zero to five plan? I ask with feigned curiosity.
No, she says.
Well, 'he' chattered about it on Tuesday when you were listening to him on the boob tube (gasp from her at the word boob being said in church, puh leeze).
I didn't hear that mentioned, she says defensively.
Then you weren't listening, I says shrugging my shoulders.
I don't believe it, her response when I explained some of the finer points of the plan, besides if that is what he said then maybe it is something we need...sounds like a good idea to me (I stare at her in disbelief).
Then with a sly smile at my mother (who KNOWS what is coming though she will still be shocked I say it out loud...in church) I say, you know a lot of people thought Hitler's ideas were good too at the beginning...welcome to Nazi America. Do be sure to tell me in four years how much you love the hell you're in.
Shock is plain on her face when I drop the convo (because she is flabbergasted, unable to form a complete sentence, at my Nazi salute and crazy smile) and continue to mangle a shirt on my machine. (note to self...don't get the giggles while working with finicky fabric).
At least the five year old would have continued the lively debate with gusto...despite not knowing what we were debating about. Gotta love that kid. He would have giggled his silly little head off at Mommy saluting the wrong way. Oh and my sarcastic tone gets him every single time. Dang, I missed this kid...for a little while.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Once....
in a land and time not so far away, people traveled with easy freedom between countries, states and cities. Back then possessions were not so many that you couldn't fit them in a wagon or two. There were certainly things that got left behind, with little fanfare. Comforts of home meant family and very few material goods. More often than not, people could carry the things (not human/animal) that meant the most to them on their backs if need be.
Furniture and homes were built by hand and stood proud in the wilderness. Food was handpicked, homegrown and often self-butchered. Clothing was handmade, knit or woven by soone near and dear to the wearer.
You see where I am headed with the fairy tale...I hope.
Industrial revolution, government interference and way too many other things have led us like lambs to the slaughter. We (as a people in general) are now dependent on flipping a switch to get light, opening the fridge for eggs and rolling to Wally World for 'necessities'...I would love to know what our ancestors would think of us now.
Soft? Lazy? Greedy?
Sure we are less prone to die from smallpox, dysentery, cholera (this remains to be seen btw), Indian attacks (p.s. don't push and they won't push back) and a myriad of other things that plagued early settlers and western bound folk. However, we now live with a massive obesity problem from lack of LIVING (or perhaps too much), heart disease, cancers from chemicals, new/harder to cure diseases/infections courtesy of global shipping and relying on other countries for our foodstuffs in accordance with the overuse of medications/antibiotics.
We still war with each other, we still try to dictate how others that are even slightly different from us should live, we still poke our big noses in where they aren't welcome (like it or not...it's a We situation).
We elect a man (even if you didn't vote for him, tough he's the leader) that decides to dictate how our children should be raised from day one out of the womb. Welcome, my friends, to Nazi America. Enjoy your stay.
Mayberry went through a list of 'no, thank you' a bit earlier...I have to agree with him. No thank you...we are just barely scraping by the majority of the time and really can't afford to pay for anyone else's comfort. We do good to keep ourselves and the screamers above the water line. Through the year we scrape to keep them in clothes/shoes/crayons and do without a lot of stuff we shouldn't have to for the sake of being able to make it to the next month with a roof over our head. Refund time rolls around right when we need it. This year we actually got ahead and are in a better place than we've been in years. But what about next year...and the next?
We've learned to live on lean and it's made us better for the most part. We could and can do without many of the creature comforts that so many find necessary.
Admission time: I'm almost wishing for a collapse...crazy, I know...but it would be a interesting study in American History to see how the population now would deal. Sure, there will be craziness, riots, insanity abounding. BUT it is the group of select few that would bounce back quickly and become the stuff this country was started from. Scrappy survivors, willing to do what was needed to be done to protect their freedom. I'd like to think that me and mine would be a part of that group. I'd like to think that after a short sojourn into the wilds, we would emerge stronger and better. But that's liking and fairy tales. I'm not silly enough to believe that the scrappy survivors will come out on top totally...the bad seed is always there and eventually things will go right on back to where they are.
It's a historical cycle. Humans have yet to learn from it. Every empire falls, every great dictator/leader/emperor dies, every civilization goes through radical changes. And like 'they' said...it's time for a change.
Furniture and homes were built by hand and stood proud in the wilderness. Food was handpicked, homegrown and often self-butchered. Clothing was handmade, knit or woven by soone near and dear to the wearer.
You see where I am headed with the fairy tale...I hope.
Industrial revolution, government interference and way too many other things have led us like lambs to the slaughter. We (as a people in general) are now dependent on flipping a switch to get light, opening the fridge for eggs and rolling to Wally World for 'necessities'...I would love to know what our ancestors would think of us now.
Soft? Lazy? Greedy?
Sure we are less prone to die from smallpox, dysentery, cholera (this remains to be seen btw), Indian attacks (p.s. don't push and they won't push back) and a myriad of other things that plagued early settlers and western bound folk. However, we now live with a massive obesity problem from lack of LIVING (or perhaps too much), heart disease, cancers from chemicals, new/harder to cure diseases/infections courtesy of global shipping and relying on other countries for our foodstuffs in accordance with the overuse of medications/antibiotics.
We still war with each other, we still try to dictate how others that are even slightly different from us should live, we still poke our big noses in where they aren't welcome (like it or not...it's a We situation).
We elect a man (even if you didn't vote for him, tough he's the leader) that decides to dictate how our children should be raised from day one out of the womb. Welcome, my friends, to Nazi America. Enjoy your stay.
Mayberry went through a list of 'no, thank you' a bit earlier...I have to agree with him. No thank you...we are just barely scraping by the majority of the time and really can't afford to pay for anyone else's comfort. We do good to keep ourselves and the screamers above the water line. Through the year we scrape to keep them in clothes/shoes/crayons and do without a lot of stuff we shouldn't have to for the sake of being able to make it to the next month with a roof over our head. Refund time rolls around right when we need it. This year we actually got ahead and are in a better place than we've been in years. But what about next year...and the next?
We've learned to live on lean and it's made us better for the most part. We could and can do without many of the creature comforts that so many find necessary.
Admission time: I'm almost wishing for a collapse...crazy, I know...but it would be a interesting study in American History to see how the population now would deal. Sure, there will be craziness, riots, insanity abounding. BUT it is the group of select few that would bounce back quickly and become the stuff this country was started from. Scrappy survivors, willing to do what was needed to be done to protect their freedom. I'd like to think that me and mine would be a part of that group. I'd like to think that after a short sojourn into the wilds, we would emerge stronger and better. But that's liking and fairy tales. I'm not silly enough to believe that the scrappy survivors will come out on top totally...the bad seed is always there and eventually things will go right on back to where they are.
It's a historical cycle. Humans have yet to learn from it. Every empire falls, every great dictator/leader/emperor dies, every civilization goes through radical changes. And like 'they' said...it's time for a change.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Just for the heck of it....
I'm going to share a favorite recipe with ya! Howdy! Perfect for preppers 'cause you have everything you need (or should have) in the stores. It's a cookie, of course, because I will admit fully and completely that I am a cookie junkie. Oh and it's egg free, so lasts a REALLY long time in the fridge if you don't want to cook all 4 dozen it yields at once.
Here goes:
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
2 cups packed brown sugar (pack it nice and tight)
1 cup butter or margarine, softened (hey did you know there was a study out that said butter is WAY better for you than margarine...just thought I'd let ya know)
1/2 cup buttermilk (never fear, regular milk works here too)
1 tsp vanilla (honestly, I use a little more but hey...I don't measure!)
3 1/2 cups oats (either old fashioned or quick cook, doesn't matter)
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (or use self rising and omit the last two ingredients)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (seriously go for semi here, there is A LOT of sugar in these already)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
Cream together brown sugar, butter, buttermilk and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients (note the separation, I usually just dump in everything and get a good dough before adding the chocolate chips).
Shape into one inch balls (puh-leeze, I just scoop it out with a tblspn) and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 3" apart. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 (ahem, 10-12 at 350 is better) or until golden brown. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool (try not to scald your tongue as you steal them from the rack). Store in airtight container for up to a week (they won't last that long anyway so don't worry about this part).
These are a rocking fave here at the Ozark house...they never ever last longer than a week...NEVER.
I'm actually getting ready to mix some up here shortly for our tattoo artists, 'cause I'm a cool chic that way!
Enjoy!
Here goes:
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
2 cups packed brown sugar (pack it nice and tight)
1 cup butter or margarine, softened (hey did you know there was a study out that said butter is WAY better for you than margarine...just thought I'd let ya know)
1/2 cup buttermilk (never fear, regular milk works here too)
1 tsp vanilla (honestly, I use a little more but hey...I don't measure!)
3 1/2 cups oats (either old fashioned or quick cook, doesn't matter)
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (or use self rising and omit the last two ingredients)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (seriously go for semi here, there is A LOT of sugar in these already)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
Cream together brown sugar, butter, buttermilk and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients (note the separation, I usually just dump in everything and get a good dough before adding the chocolate chips).
Shape into one inch balls (puh-leeze, I just scoop it out with a tblspn) and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 3" apart. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 (ahem, 10-12 at 350 is better) or until golden brown. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool (try not to scald your tongue as you steal them from the rack). Store in airtight container for up to a week (they won't last that long anyway so don't worry about this part).
These are a rocking fave here at the Ozark house...they never ever last longer than a week...NEVER.
I'm actually getting ready to mix some up here shortly for our tattoo artists, 'cause I'm a cool chic that way!
Enjoy!
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Ink and The Story
For those that want to see the completed project, you can click here...don't worry there's nothing there that will make ya blush, I promise.
Now the story behind the ink. As of this very moment, the picture holds only a ball of tiger lilies and a sweet potato vine. Interesting choices for the most part, both have a deep meaning for me which is the reasoning behind the choices. Tiger lilies are pretty common in the ink world (most flowers are). Here they stand for something along the lines of "dare you to love me". Sure, okay...not for me though.
You see, the tiger lily (or ditch lily) is my flower. As in the one that makes me melt...no roses for this chick...it's all about the tiger lily. Strength, wealth and prosperity (there are more things to wealth than just money). Fierce and dedicated friendship. Tiger lilies are prolific, they SURVIVE just about anywhere in just about any condition. Promising, isn't it?
There is an old Asian legend about the tiger lily...here ya go: A Korean hermit helped a wounded tiger by removing an arrow from its body. The tiger asked the hermit to use his powers to perpetuate their friendship after his death. The hermit agreed and when the tiger died, his body became a tiger lily. Eventually the hermit drowned and his body was washed away. The Tiger Lily spread everywhere searching for its friend.
A dedicated survivor regardless of the hardships...plus they're just too darn pretty for words.
Now the sweet potato vine...that's a whole 'nother ball of wax. Beautiful despite its roots (face it, sweet potatoes are not the prettiest things in the word). Takes root easily but still survives transplants. They aren't fussy and don't demand a lot of time. Easy on the eyes and easy to nurture.
There is a second bit of symbolism to it for me though...the spouse. He's stood by me through all my nuttiness these long years, held me when I've cried and turned me loose when I needed my space. I may not always like the man, but I do love him. I don't do the whole name in permanent ink thing, so I chose to get the vine. You see, the spouse was called by the nickname of Sweet Potato when he was a little fella. Fitting, don't ya think?
Now the story behind the ink. As of this very moment, the picture holds only a ball of tiger lilies and a sweet potato vine. Interesting choices for the most part, both have a deep meaning for me which is the reasoning behind the choices. Tiger lilies are pretty common in the ink world (most flowers are). Here they stand for something along the lines of "dare you to love me". Sure, okay...not for me though.
You see, the tiger lily (or ditch lily) is my flower. As in the one that makes me melt...no roses for this chick...it's all about the tiger lily. Strength, wealth and prosperity (there are more things to wealth than just money). Fierce and dedicated friendship. Tiger lilies are prolific, they SURVIVE just about anywhere in just about any condition. Promising, isn't it?
There is an old Asian legend about the tiger lily...here ya go: A Korean hermit helped a wounded tiger by removing an arrow from its body. The tiger asked the hermit to use his powers to perpetuate their friendship after his death. The hermit agreed and when the tiger died, his body became a tiger lily. Eventually the hermit drowned and his body was washed away. The Tiger Lily spread everywhere searching for its friend.
A dedicated survivor regardless of the hardships...plus they're just too darn pretty for words.
Now the sweet potato vine...that's a whole 'nother ball of wax. Beautiful despite its roots (face it, sweet potatoes are not the prettiest things in the word). Takes root easily but still survives transplants. They aren't fussy and don't demand a lot of time. Easy on the eyes and easy to nurture.
There is a second bit of symbolism to it for me though...the spouse. He's stood by me through all my nuttiness these long years, held me when I've cried and turned me loose when I needed my space. I may not always like the man, but I do love him. I don't do the whole name in permanent ink thing, so I chose to get the vine. You see, the spouse was called by the nickname of Sweet Potato when he was a little fella. Fitting, don't ya think?
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