Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

Thanks to Bev Sykes for helping us steal memes.

1. What you did you do today?  My usual Sunday:  I went to the Methodist Church in town, which goes from 9 to 10.  Then I walked to the Baptist Church, which goes from 10:30 to 11:30.  I came home and warmed up leftovers from yesterday, and now watching football.  My team, the Kansas City Chiefs, play at 3:30, and they are really the only team I care about.

 2.  What are the must-sees in your area?  I'm 25 miles away from the greater Kansas City area, so I'd recommend the National World War I Museum and Memorial.  Also, in Independence, the recently remodeled Harry Truman Library. 

 3. What is your favourite quote?  Right now, it's this:  Luke 12:15 NKJV - And He (Jesus) said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

 4. What was the last thing you cooked or ate?  I made my husband and myself milk shakes.  He's been losing weight, so this was a treat he won't be getting again for awhile. 

 5. What is something you learned from your

 grandparents?   I really didn't know my paternal grandfather very well, but I spent lots of time with my maternal grandma.  She kept a diary, which led me to keep a diary (now a blog) throughout my life; also to read the Bible every day, and to love chickens and cows.

 6. What makes you happy?   I love the early morning hours.  The sun coming up makes me happy.  Pets make me happy, and my husband makes me happy... we have some funny conversations that make me laugh.  

 7. What is your best travel memory?  Several Colorado memories.  I really enjoyed a trip we took to Memphis, too.  Oh, and we took a train trip to the Grand Canyon for our 50th anniversary.  Then there were all the motorcycle trips we took to south Missouri and Arkansas.  Fun times.

 8. What’s the weather like today?  It's a lovely autumn day in the 70's.  Perfect!

 9. Share an interesting fact that you’ve learned.  I've learned that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, and there doesn't seem to be any cure for it.

 10. What is your favourite book, movie or band!  I can't choose a favorite book, there are so many good ones.  Right now I'm reading Lessons in Chemistry and enjoying it.  My favorite movies are Stand by Me and Little Big Man, as well as Casablanca.  Any band playing Henry Mancini songs is great by me.

 11.  Write your favorite poem or haiku?  This makes me wonder if I'm supposed to share a poem  I wrote.  I've written hundreds, but it's easier to copy and paste somebody else's. 

Leisure by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

 12. What is a local festival or tradition from your area?  There's not much big going on in my little town, population 870 or so.

 13. What was the best thing you learned in school?  I learned how to be invisible and became a complete loner.

Surprises in the garden

I got tired of watering my next-to-the-last planting of green beans, and left them to die; I had a another small crop of green beans coming on, but decided not to water that planting either.  A couple of days ago I noticed there were some green beans on those last-planted ones that were about ready to pick; I examined them closely, figuring there wouldn't be any actual beans in the pods; but there were, so I decided to pick the beans that were ready and save them in the refrigerator for a couple of days in a baggie, until more beans got big enough to pick.  Then I walked over to the older rows and noticed they, too, had some decent-looking green beans on them.  I don't know how, with no rain, but there they were.  I now have enough green beans to cook, with some left over for a couple more days.  We never get tired of green beans, and they're good for my husband in his effort to lose weight.  He has some clothes now that definitely fit looser.  

He was trying not to eat anything after our mid-day meal, and succeeded.  But he mentioned that his stomach was burning a little when he went to bed.  I told him that's because the only thing in his stomach was acid when he ate nothing in the evening.  I suggested he just choose something not too caloric in the evening, like one slice of bread with a little peanut butter, or maybe half a cup of cottage cheese.  That fixed his stomach problem.  I would have told him to eat a banana or apple, but those things bother his stomach at night.  He really is doing much better about eating, and I hope I can keep cooking more healthy foods and less desserts so he won't be tempted. 

I also found two ugly, small tomatoes to add to the ones I already had in the house.  I'm making our healthy diet version of chicken gumbo, which calls for two cups of chopped tomatoes.  I had enough, with one tomato to spare.

As for the gumbo ingredients, the okra plants aren't contributing a lot, but I got enough in two days to give me the two cups of okra the recipe calls for.

There was a chance of rain yesterday.  People 75 miles south of us got six inches.  We got barely 2/10 of an inch, as always.  There's another chance of rain for today.  I won't hold my breath, although right now it looks and feels as if it could happen.  

There's always hope.