John Donne and Winner, Winner Lobster Dinner!

We're overrun with eagles this year and my photo isn't terrific due to great distance between birds and me. We've got a lot of adults and juveniles who war for food, and, I would show you more photos but I can't figure out how to upload them. Yes, it seems success is not to be mine tonight, at least, not more than once.  Marcus, the computer genius who fixed my computer, has me on Internet Explorer now and I was on Chrome; it's totally confusing as I have no tidy mind when it comes to computer stuff. I seem to wander all over the place, never getting much accomplished and have now been trying to update the blog for almost 3 hours. Yeah. Like I've got that kind of time...sigh. Dearest God, I do miss Dave for all kinds of reasons!

"In heaven it is always autumn,

His mercies are ever in their maturity.

We ask our daily bread

And God never says

You should have come yesterday,

He never says

You must come again tomorrow,

But today if you will hear His voice,

Today He will hear you.

 

He brought light out of darkness,

Not out of a lesser light;

He can bring thy summer out of winter

Tho' thou have no spring,

Though in the ways of fortune or understanding or conscience

Thou have been benighted til now,

Wintered and frozen, clouded and eclipsed,

Damped and benumbed, smothered and stupefied til now.

 

Now God comes to thee,

Not as in the dawning of the day,

Not a in the bud of the spring

But as the sun at noon,

As the sheaves in harvest."

 

~ John Donne, 1624 ~

Weather has turned November'ish and it's cold, windy, rainy, sleety and calling for 6 inches of snow tonight and more snow through Sunday. Next week it warms up and, as Mom likes to say, "It's good pneumonia weather!" The horses have been fed, some turned into a small lot for grazing and Lightly is still in a short lot, receiving meds for tender feet. Everyone has safety, shelter, food and water for the night. One of my mantras is, "I prep during daylight so I can sleep at night" and, mostly, that's true. There have been a few bitter nights that I've lain awake and prayed for the animals...for sheep lambing and cows calving, for my own animals. There are many  nights I awake and pray for those whom God brings to mind but, generally, I sleep and sleep well due to the energy needed to get through the day.

Cutting this short...I'm hungry and still need to fix myself supper; the winner of the Food Network Magazine subscription is Madge of The View From Right Here. Congratulations Madge! I've sent you a PM and you've got 24 hours to send me your snail mail address.

Blessings ~ magazine subscriptions ~ John Donne ~ poetry ~ work ~ a good
night's rest ~ 

October's Party by George Cooper

"October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came-

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

 The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.

 Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly "hands around." "

The above poem was given to me by Chris, an Abingdon friend and the only person I've ever met who was born on my birthday. Chris says I was born on her birthday because she's a few hours...or is it minutes?...older. Last week, Chris called and said, "I have a poem for you. I had to memorize it in Mrs. Bacon's 4th grade and know you'll love it" and then, proceeded to quote the poem. I was, am, totally amazed...the only thing I remember about 4th grade is I had to get eye glasses and Chris remembers a poem! Makes me feel like a real piker but Chris was right...I do love the poem...thank you, Chris.

The computer problem was the hard drive; it crashed and a wonderful, wonderful young man named Marcus diagnosed and fixed the problem. It's funny...I took September off from blogging and, as it turns out, due to computer problems, have taken a lot of October as well. There aren't enough hours in the day, nor in me, to get it all done so, again, will visit as time permits. We're expecting snow this weekend and I still have to mortar the foundation as well as a host of other chores to prepare. Work is never finished, I simply reach a stopping point and continue the next day.

Update: Food Network Magazine giveaway...here...will be tomorrow, 5 p.m.  Winner's name will be chosen via Random.org; if winner doesn't respond within 24 hours, a new name will be chosen same way, same rules.

Blessings ~ poetry ~ George Cooper ~ October ~ Chris ~ Marcus ~

computer woes and Giveaway

Having torrential rain storms, flooded in...IN...in one day; 

high waters meant I couldn't leave farm.

Computer problems, trouble posting, visiting.

 Food Network Mag giveaway here.

Sabbath Keeping

"You made my whole being;

you formed me in my mother's body.

I praise you because you made me

in an amazing and wonderful way.

What you have done is wonderful.

I know this very well."

~ Psalm 139: 13-14 ~

"Antonio Stradivari was a seventeenth-century violin maker whose name in its Latin form, Stradivarius, has become synonymous with excellence. He once said that to make a violin less than his best would be to rob God, who could not make Antonio Stradivari's violins without Antonio.
  He was right. God could not make Stradivarius violins without Antonio Stradivari. Certain gifts were give to that craftsman that no other violin maker possessed.
  In that same vein, there are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or constructing houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely." 
~ Max Lucado ~
"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~
"You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with." ~ Wayne Dyer ~
"If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind."
~ Shannon Alder ~ 
"A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval." ~ Mark Twain ~

"Where ever you go, 

there you are,

 so you might as well enjoy the company." 

~ Sandra B. ~

"Self-care is never a selfish act-it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others." ~ Parker Palmer ~
"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are."
~ Malcolm S. Forbes ~

"You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked.

Try approving of yourself and see what happens."

~ Louise L. Hay ~ 

“There is nothing so rewarding as to make people realize that they are worthwhile in this world.”  ~ Bob Anderson ~

"It ain't what they call you,

it's what you answer to."

~ W. C. Fields ~ 

“I will not be "famous," "great." I will go on adventuring, changing, opening my mind and my eyes, refusing to be stamped and stereotyped. The thing is to free one's self: to let it find its dimensions, not be impeded.” ~ Virginia Woolf ~
“Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you're worthy of the trip.” 
~ Glenn Beck ~

"If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; 

how important you can be to people you may never even dream of.

There is something of yourself that you leave 

at every  meeting with another person."

~ Mr. Rogers ~ 

"You are God's children whom He loves,

so try to be like Him. Live a life of love just as

Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a

sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God."

~ Ephesians 5:1-2 ~

Please let me know if you have a name to be placed on the prayer list. Names are kept for one week and then we begin again. My memory is horrible; if you want a name added each week, please let me know.

Prayer Keeping ~ Donna ~ Jim ~ Bill ~ GJ ~ Hilary ~ Sandra ~ 

Food Network Mag Giveaway

"Listen! The wind is rising, 

and the air is wild with leaves, 

we have had our summer evenings, 

now for October eves!" 

by Humbert Wolfe

There's a last gasp on harvest and produce; we're leaving red and heading into orange season so I decided to do something with cherry tomatoes. Dave told me...hmmm... memory is shaky but I think it was either General Patton or General Eisenhower used to read cookbooks to relax. I bet it was Eisenhower...can't really see "George C. Scott" reading cookbooks, can you? grin Anyway, I adore reading cookbooks for inspiration, ideas and, sometimes, recipes. Although, I think recipes are suggestions and have never been married to one in my life. 

 When I found some good looking cherry tomatoes, I brought them home and thought bout it for a day or two. I finally decided to slice them in half and put them into a shallow baking pan and sprinkled a few finely diced rosemary leaves over the top.

 Some cracked pepper and sea salt were added,

then everything drizzled with EVOO and put the pan into a slow oven to roast. It was left there for about 4 hours at 300 degrees F. which was long enough for the flavors to meld.

 Meanwhile, I sliced up a small, rustic loaf of Italian bread and drizzled each slice with EVOO.

When the tomatoes were almost finished, I sliced up a log of goat cheese, dipped each slice into milk, then fine bread crumbs. A tablespoon, or three, of EVOO were put into a hot iron skillet and began to brown. If more crispy brown was wanted, I would have dipped the cheese slices into an egg wash.

When the cheese was a melted, delicious mess, each round of goat cheese was married to a bread slice, then topped with the roasted tomatoes. A taste test revealed another crank of the pepper and salt grinders was needed, but... it was wonderful! 

So wonderful, I've had it for supper, several times, in the last week. The tomatoes are also good when added to soups, stews, scrambled eggs. I'm still finding out ways to use the roasted tomatoes and have frozen one batch to use later. 

The Food Network Magazine has been around ages but I just discovered it recently and have read it cover to cover. It's great and has recipes from a wide variety of folks as well as recipes pertinent to the season. I subscribed and want to give a year's subscription to someone. Preference goes to followers...meaning only those who follow my blog are eligible to win. It's not that I'm trying to gain more followers, I'm saying thanks to those who are followers.

The October issue has lots of lovely pumpkin recipes, apple recipes and bread recipes. November's issue has lots of Thanksgiving recipes and Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa on the cover. Her latest cook book is Make It Ahead, and I'm all about making it ahead. My favorite kitchen tools are my slow cooker, enameled covered cast iron and plain cast iron cookware. I'm not sure I could do without any of those; surely don't want to imagine trying!

Leave a comment, telling me your favorite Autumnal recipe. It can be your recipe, someone else's, one from the magazine...doesn't matter; just tell me your favorite recipe for this time of year. A stateside winner will be chosen one week from today...next Friday at 5:00 and will be notified by e-mail. You'll have 24 hours to acknowledge and send me your address. If 24 hours pass and that's not done, another name will be chosen. Good Fortune be yours!

Blessings ~ cherry tomatoes ~ EVOO ~ goat cheese ~ Humbert Wolfe ~ Food Network Magazine ~

Sabbath Keeping

~grasshopper on sun room window ~

"As for me, I look to the Lord for help.

I wait confidently for God to save me,

and my God will certainly hear me."

~ Micah 7:7 ~

"And sure enough, even waiting will end, if you can just wait long enough."

~ William Faulkner ~

"Waiting is a trap. there will always be reasons to wait. If you always wait for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine." ~ Morris West ~

"The important work of moving the world forward, does not wait to be done by perfect men." ~ George Elliott ~

"Life isn't about waiting for the rain to end. 

It's about learning how to dance in the rain."

~ unknown ~

"The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting."

~ Fran Lebowitz ~

"All things come to him who waits-provide he knows what he's is waiting for."

~ Woodrow Wilson ~

"The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working. Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand with as much regularity as an accountant settles down each day to his figures. They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration." ~ Ernest Newman ~

"I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you're able to be more patient. Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting."  ~ Joyce Meyer ~

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." ~ E. M. Forster ~

"The world is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." 

~ Bertrand Russell ~ 

"We always keep God waiting while we admit more importunate suitors."

~ Malcolm De Chazal ~

"Dream as if you'll live forever.

Live as if you'll die today."

"Looking for that blessed hope

and that glorious appearing

of the Great God and our Savior,

Jesus Christ." 

~ Titus 2:13 ~ 

If you have someone you'd like on the prayer list, please let me know. Names are kept for one week, then, we begin again.

Prayer Keeping ~ Jim ~ Donna ~ Bill ~ GJ ~ 

I Very Nearly Lost My Story

Taking some time off was a Very Good Thing but I can't report that anything wonderful happened. Life went along as usual...rescued another dog, rescued another kitten, made some delicious snacks that turned out to be supper, was going to visit family but ended up spending two weeks sick. It's some sort of upper respiratory infection and I'm in the middle of the second week of antibiotics, feeling some better and expecting a full recovery. Still and all, a blog break let me rest and breath and just be. I highly recommend it!

~ Tigger ~ 

I wouldn't put my hand on the Bible and swear but the facts are...a man and woman parked at the bottom of the hill, in front of gates (stoopid, stoopid), and got out with their dog. (The Cove is a favorite place to walk in Autumn.) I looked away and, a few seconds later, looked again. I could see a small critter winding around the legs of the dog and the man would stoop down, do "something" and then stand. This went on for a bit so I got the spyglasses to have a look see. What I saw was the bit of fluff above...the man was trying to get himself and the dog away from the kitten. 

I am so proud of ME! I didn't say any bad words...not a single, nary one! What I did was run to the garage, get the car and speed down the road...dressed in my Lanz nightgown and Ugg bedroom slippers, morning coffee breath and hair sticking everywhere. (I have almost absolutely no shame when it comes to an animal rescue!) When I got to the bottom of the hill, I saw a flash to my left. I stopped the car, got out and started calling, "here kitty, here kitty, meow! meow!" and the bit of fluff ran to me! He was meowing, cold, wet and totally unafraid which makes me think he was dropped. Also, his ears are clean, his coat is clean and he hasn't any fleas. A feral cat will not approach a human and this little thing absolutely threw himself at me! So, I drove on to the nasty mean wicked disgraceful humans and said, "The next time y'all visit the Cove, please don't block gates. We're a farming community and trying to get silage and hay put up; when you block our gates, you make our job so much more difficult." The woman replied, in rather a snitty voice (at least to my ear), "Well, I suppose we could go move our car." I smiled sweetly grimaced at her, "Oh, it's okay for now but this is your only warning. The next time it happens, we'll just have it towed."  Then I snugged the kitten and said, "Come on, kitty; this time you've found someone kind to love you." Then I drove home, leaving the nasty humans to talk about the crazy woman me.

~ Daisy Mae Redbone ~

This beautiful girl was dropped on the mountain and looks to be a pure bred Redbone Coon Hound and is about a year old. Redbones are used for hunting coon, bear, and even cougar. Daisy Mae has a beautiful red coat, lovely expression and feet the size of Montana. smile She's had her shots and is scheduled to be spayed next week. I'd love to find a great home for her but not around here. Around here she would be kept on a chain and beaten...shudder! The centuries old breed dates back to red foxhounds brought over by Scottish immigrants in the 1700's and, prior to the War Between the States, red foxhounds imported by Irishmen. Redbone's are easy to train, eager to please and Daisy is a love bug! Yes, she sleeps with Sadie, Sam and me and I wake to Daisy throwing her front leg over me, snuggled in as close as she can get, giving sloppy kisses in a frenzy of delight. Please, do you know someone who could give this girl a loving home? I'm willing to travel a ways...

So, what do you think of OCTOBER?  I dearly love October , although it's very confusing as it's name means "eighth"...?...but my absolute favorite month is the one I'm in. Forrest and me...we're alike thataway. (BTW, have I ever mentioned Dave's first name was Forrest? Yeah, he was a Gump too! LOL) Winston Groom's book, made into an award winning movie and, I believe, is Tom Hanks' best work. Ever. He was brilliant as Forrest, in virtually every scene and never fails to astound, delight, bring me to tears and laughter. Brilliant!

As the poet said, "I have been younger in October than all the months of spring..." and it's true. Is it the crispness of the air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the last gasp of harvest before the deep sleep? I'm not sure but the air has a quality of absolute clarity that is stunning and overwhelms my senses. The Milky Way is seen on cloudless nights with stars cast as glitter from overhead to the far distance; its beauty devastates my heart. 

If you want a challenge, the Shepheardes Calender for October may be read here but I should warn you...it isn't an easy read but it is an interesting one. 

~ bread, goat cheese, evoo, tomatoes ~

Later this week, I want to give you a recipe suggestion for a tasty meal snack  hors devours or, as my SIL likes to say, horsey de overs. Let me give you a hint...it involves EVOO, tomatoes and goat cheese. I'm also going to giveaway a year's subscription to the food network magazine. I love magazine subscriptions and only today, found the food network magazine (yeah, yeah, if it doesn't hit Walmart, I'm the last to know) and that magazine is going to ruin me! Oh mercy. October's cover is quick bread...be still my heart! I'm going to make quick bread every day of this month! (Not really but it sounded good.) I am going to make bread...it's that time of year...bread making and my hands need some dough. (Oh goodness. I can go so many different directions with that one! Someone, please stop me!!!) 

AND...PUMPKIN SPICED COFFEE and NUTS and BREAD and...quick, help me! I'm hyperventilating! Around here, only Mickie D's has pumpkin spiced coffee but the FNM (yeah, I'm cool thataway...my new favorite mag is now called FNM...snicker, snort, guffaw!) has a recipe...wowza! You'll get that as well with the mag giveaway post so stay tuned.

Not really all that much happening for taking a few weeks off, eh? Even so, that little break kept me from losing my story...losing my touch. In the end, it's just life and God being good, that's good enough. 

That's all, y'all! Bye for now...

Blessings ~ good food ~ Daisy Mae ~ Tigger ~ October ~ Forrest Grump ~ a good life ~