IF

If If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
- R. Kipling

There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with. -Harry Crews, novelist and playwright

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created--created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination."
- John Schaar

Good morning everyone..

Calling for rain here but hope it holds off till the laundry is dry..
Will check on Rex while his owner heads to the sugar bush to get ready for the tap in the Spring.

Gloria, happy to read you didn't lose power!!

Jenny, I am sure step by step will be well thought out by both you and Bob.

Bubble ,thank you the new start page, copied IF to pass on to others and one for myself to print off.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning everyone, it is COLD this morning, 34° and will not get out of the 40's today. I went out for a walk yesterday got to the end of the building, turned around and came back in. Was still windy and I was almost shivering. Today if i go out I will be wearing either fleece pants or "geemagotchees" as Joan used to call them. Maybe I should get LLBean online and get some long "woolies" 

JANE  I felt like you yesterday when I could not get in here. I know I had your phone number and finally found it on my external drive but then for a email from Amy telling me the site was back.

JENNY  I would not like the thought of moving again. I have got rid of so many thing with the moves I have made that what I have now is mostly sentimental and would have to part  with any of it.

BUBBLE  thanks for a new book to fill up. Love your graphics and your quotes. I really like IF.

AMY  like you I copied IF to print out and share.

Have a good day.

Good Saturday morning.  And it sure is COLD !  Had to push the thermostat up a little bit.

Yes, I did try to get in here for a while, but then gave up.  Late last night I was surprised when I tried and there you all were.  I had planned on calling Jane if I couldn't get in here today.  So, everything is back to normal now, I guess.

I am only marking my spot right now.  I am expecting a friend to stop by and then I am supposed to be going out for supper.

Thanks, Bubble,  for the new page for the new month.  Lot of things will be happening now looking forward to the holidays.

So, I will be back later, hopefully.

Have a great day.

Joy

so_P_bubble thanks for posting the nice graphics. hope your day and all others is great just as you all like. Is 34º and clear here this AM. shooting for mid 50's today.

Lloyd

Thank you for bringing us back together, Oldiesman.

Sunny and cold here this morning, too.  I think summer has finally given up.  We need rain.   The storms on Thursday night didn't affect us too much in my neighborhood but caused damage and outages just to the north of us.  We had a little rain and a gust of wind or two and that was about all.  We had quite a few trick or treater's but they were all back home, out of the weather, by 8 p.m.  The little ones are so cute.

I hope everyone is doing well and that this will be a good day for all of us.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  It's cold here this morning, too, 33 degrees when I got up and only up to 35 now.  I do believe Winter is upon us!

BUBBLE, thanks so much for our nice, clean new HAPPY PLACE!  I love all your offering.  Did you know there is also an "If for Girls"?  When my sisters and I were growing up, it was hanging in our bedroom and periodically, my mother would recite it to us.  I suppose she had to learn it in school but she never forgot it.  My sister and I used to follow her on the one on the wall and she never missed a word.  I wonder what happened to that picture?  I'll have to ask my sister.  She never forgets anything.  Thank you for bringing me back a lovely memory of my childhood. 

I guess I better get my chores started of the day will be over before I ever get started.  Slept pretty wall last night and didn't wake up until almost 7. 

I wish you all  lovely day!
Make it your own in every way!

Oh wow!  I found it!

[ An "If" for Girls
By Elizabeth Lincoln Otis

(With apologies to Mr. Rudyard Kipling)

If you can dress to make yourself attractive,
      Yet not make puffs and curls your chief delight;
If you can swim and row, be strong and active,
      But of the gentler graces lose not sight;
If you can dance without a craze for dancing,
      Play without giving play too strong a hold,
Enjoy the love of friends without romancing,
      Care for the weak, the friendless and the old;

If you can master French and Greek and Latin,
      And not acquire, as well, a priggish mien,
If you can feel the touch of silk and satin
      Without despising calico and jean;
If you can ply a saw and use a hammer,
      Can do a man's work when the need occurs,
Can sing when asked, without excuse or stammer,
      Can rise above unfriendly snubs and slurs;
If you can make good bread as well as fudges,
      Can sew with skill and have an eye for dust,
If you can be a friend and hold no grudges,
      A girl whom all will love because they must;

If sometime you should meet and love another
      And make a home with faith and peace enshrined,
And you its soul—a loyal wife and mother—
      You'll work out pretty nearly to my mind
The plan that's been developed through the ages,
      And win the best that life can have in store,
You'll be, my girl, the model for the sages—
      A woman whom the world will bow before./size]

  Snowing here.....

Saw a bittern by the lake,thought they would be gone by now.

Jane, thank you, copied that one also.

Jenny, with friends and family, your packing and move will happen in a heart beat.

Have chicken on cooking for the dogs and will go let Rex plus give him his hugs :)out..

Cold here as well, sun shining and wind not as bad as earlier this week. That wind can cut through most clothes, but a layer of nylon saves the day!

Last knee report (for this round)... Dr says "touch of arthritis & meniscus (whatever that means)... to exercise & keep loose but not abuse. I refused the shot in the knee that seems to be the normal fix, but filled the "gel" script (for $60) that did nothing for me. Gloria, was as un-affective as the HemVana...and triple the price. But today I am able to move around without the walker if I have a wall to lean on, use walker when I want the gait normal, but so far getting a little more movement every day, but don't dare twist or put too much pressure on that leg. Bones in my hands are really sore from carrying my weight when walking, have a "hop" when not using the walker. I do have a new respect for people with knee injuries, for sure the pain it right up with having a baby & open heart surgery!

Thank you, Bubble, for the graphics & the wit & wisdom, all with special meanings....

My plan is to call the couple that took down the little building & see if they can come Mon or Tues to cut down the tall grass & bundle for trash & extra yard work before rain expected on Wed. Don't have the canvas cover over the AC so will have them put that on, a 2 people job. Normally I love this time of year & the work outside, but will not push my luck. Then I want to start on the inside, you know it is only weeks until Thanksgiving!!!!

Have to laugh at "circumstances" and seriously think God must be smiling at this, to see if I can hold my temper/patience. Not long ago the smoke alarm downstairs started beeping so I put in a new battery. When I did the test it wouldn't screach so I brought the whole thing up to check it out. Son convinced me it was okay, I just hadn't pushed the test button long enough. Well, it was at least a week before I got it back downstairs & installed. The day after the knee went out one of the 3 on this floor started beeping but NEVER when anyone was around to help define which. With the angles of this house, sounds "mix", so after several days of that ding-blasted thing beeping it finally died and I still don't know which one has the dead battery. Last night the one in the hall nearest my bedroom started. I gave it half a dozen beeps & got out of bed, got the short ladder out & took that whole thing down & disconnected the battery. I will have to find my supply of batteries to make sure I have 4 new 9v ones & replace all at the same time, need it or not!

And that, dear Friends, has been my week. Not exactly exciting but glad it's over. As Pollyanna would say, "the good of it is the Doppler showed NO blood clots and the X-ray showed NO broken bones. Since I was diagnosed with full blown osteoporosis nearly 30 years ago, that is good news the bones aren't crumbled!

I'd still love to go camping, would have to be "dry camping"... to make sure not a drop of water gets into any of the pipes, but I've done it before. I have an electric heater #1 son gave me for Christmas last year... even has a remote control, or can use the "heat pump" with furnace of RV. On a sunny day in the woods of Missouri, the critters are scampering around still gathering nuts (mostly hickory), birds yelling their warnings & the leaves drifting down slowly, no wind like in Kansas. The cats & I watch out the windows, put in a DVD to watch & cuddle on the bed, sleep or think. Absolute Heaven!

Jane, love the other side of IF... Back in our early years I think it was normal to have sayings & things on walls, a way to learn without the drill. We had maps & flags around the ceiling, thanks to my middle brother, at one time I knew the flags of the world.

Amy, I will have to hurry this knee to be stronger so I can watch the migrating birds down along the river. I have seen bittern go through, had to look up in a bird book, not a bird that we see often. Saw the first "snow" birds (Junco) out the window last week. Know winter is here when.........

Wishing everyone a happy day.  "Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be." quote attributed to Lincoln.

No posts since I "waved" so I'll just edit this one for The Morning Report.

Shirley,  Juncos must be moving south.  I saw the first one of the season at the bird feeder this morning. 

Also saw a new thing - and solved the mystery of finding small holes in the yard covered with a leaf.  A big crow landed on the grass carrying some kind of nut in its beak (have seen squirrels with these but don't know what tree they come from).  It pecked a hole in the dirt, dropped the nut in - then picked up and discarded several leaves until it found one that would fit into the hole to cover the nut.  Wonder if the crow will remember where it is?

Only Plan du Jour is to make up a bag of slider buns into baked sandwiches.  So good for lunch - especially now that "soup weather" is here.

Enjoy your day, Everyfriend.

Haha, Callie, that reminds me of the year Cas was trying to grow new grass & kept finding big chunks pulled out... then he saw the critter doing it. Had a yellow something woodpecker, we figured looking for grubs, walking along just slinging those clumps of grass like it was a day time job!  Same critter would hop on the transformer on the pole at the edge of the yard & bam-bam until you had to wonder how it's poor beak didn't look like ... remember the cartoons of wiley coyote & the road runner? That road runner was always making it's beak look like a saw blade.   

Love to watch the crows, they really think. One year we had lots of Canada geese come up to the fence & beg, Cas would buy them 50 pound bags of corn (until he realized that was a big mistake). The crows would watch the geese pig out & they weren't getting their share until one crow started hopping on the back of a goose... to make it move. After doing that to the same goose a few times it would fly off & the crow would walk along looking for corn where the goose vacated. We don't see them at all the last couple years. Some stay year around but the migrating ones are not stopping on this stretch of the river. Beautiful day, just gotta get out!

well we love all of nature but we enjoy the humming birds in there season.
we put out two feeders for them. Is such of a pleasure to set in here and watch them eat and dive bomb each other. also the squealers come up on our deck and put on there show and chatter also.

Lloyd

Lloyd

Another day has gone. Laundry done but weather  of snow and rain  laundry dried inside. Rex is doing much better even used his bad leg to stand on while watering the grass. I feel as long as he doesn't run or carry on which he does do his leg with be fine. Time is a great healer so hope it works. Repair man came and problem solved with the tv remote.

Shirley, crows are so smart! I will put something out for them, not a crow in sight, give a whistle and come inside to look out the window and they are at the food. No idea of where they are but soon one or more will come. One will tell the others that there is food then one crow will stay high in the pines as a look out.  Now I have a one legged herring gull....noticed him the other day.  Did you google meniscus?

Callie ,how do you make your sliders and do they freeze well?

Lloyd, animals can be so entertaining.. such a little bird ,feisty and so pretty too!

We take 2 or 3 humming bird feeders to CO, the campgrounds are full & they still fight over a feeder. Youngest son bought one that had suction cup to attach to the RV window so the cats could see them up close. After a little while they were bored with watching.

Amy, one year there was a Canada goose with fish line tangled between it's legs. When I first noticed it could walk okay but the line kept getting tighter & guess cut circulation from one leg. Finally the leg came off & dangled from the fish line. I felt like crying every day when it came to eat. I tried everything to get close to it but wouldn't have any part of me being able to touch it. Eventually a man that rescues wildlife heard about it & came with a net to capture. He did cut the line off but afraid he turned it loose too soon & the other leg was too weak to hold it up. I walked down the river several houses away & took corn to throw on the little island it stayed on for weeks after all the others went south..except it's mate waiting on it. Finally one day it took off after it ate, like to say good by & circled over head where it's mate waited, & never saw it again. I made a video of it & posted on Vimeo, I think it was... don't have the password or link to it I don't think. So sad.... I love to watch wildlife but know they have a hard life. Could be a link to that video on the oldest computer.

I did Google meniscus but since my son & daughter's husband have both been plaqued with the problem & both had the same experience of absolutely crashing down at work with the knee going out...and all 3 of our doctors had the same approach to what to do, I'm getting all sort of advice & suggestions. The one I thought had the best link was one Bubble sent me & I passed along to my kids. Has a different fix for the problem. It was good to make sure no blood clots or broken/smashed bones but I was surprised that so much pain would come from "soft tissue".

Here it is, Saturday night & time to shower & wash my hair! Wishing all a beautiful Sunday, peaceful sleep and pleasant dreams. God Bless.  Shirley

this was a busy day and I'm very tired.  I'm glad you are all dealing so well with your problems.

SHIRLEY, the story about the gull brought tears to my eyes!  What a sad story!

I got lots of stuff done today but nothing really shows.  It was what I call "putzing".  You keep going and you never do anything that really shows but you're busy all day!

Now I'm going to watch a little TV through my eyelids and then hit the hay.  Tomorrow is All Saints Day and we only have one combined service at church at 10 so I don't have to hurry in the morning.  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy tomorrow.  I sure did miss you all!

Shirley, last summer, I kept finding mulch from the flower beds scattered out on the grass.  Of course, I blamed the    squirrels until I saw two brown thrashers tossing it about with their beaks.  Not sure what they were looking for but wish they'd picked up their mess!

Amy:  My slider recipe is similar to the ones using Hawaiian Rolls but I like the slider buns. And, yes, they freeze beautifully.  Great with soup or salad.

BAKED SLIDER SANDWICHES

One dozen slider buns (Pepperidge Farm makes them but I'm seeing other brands in the grocery store now)
12 slices deli-sliced ham
12 slices deli-sliced turkey
(I can get deli=sliced Oscar Mayer ham and turkey slices in the same package)

3 slices deli-sliced Swiss cheese (cut in fourths to make 12 squares)
3 slices deli-sliced mild Cheddar cheese (cut in fourths to make 12 squares)
(Actually, you can use any type of cheese you want - just make sure it's very thinly sliced)

Split buns and place bottom halves on a cookie sheet - about an inch apart.
Top each with 1 slice ham, 1 square cheese, 1 slice turkey and 1 square cheese  (meat slices have to be folded a bit)

Add top bun halves and brush with a mixture of:

4 TBS. (1/4 cup) oleo (melted)
2 tsps. white sugar
2 1/2 tsps. onion powder or dried onion flakes (I prefer the powder)
1 1/2 tsps. Honey Mustard spread (Durkees)
1 1/2 tsps. Worcestershire sauce

Melt the oleo in microwave bowl for 30 seconds. Then add other ingredients, stir and microwave about 25-30 seconds - or until honey/mustard is dissolved.
Use all of the melted mixture to brush tops of sandwiches. (I like to brush in one direction and then "criss-cross" in the other direction.  Okay to let it drip down the sides.)

Cover cookie sheet lightly with foil and let set at least an hour - longer okay.

Bake about 10-15 minutes at 350º.
If not eating immediately, let cool and wrap each sandwich in foil. Freeze or can keep in fridge for several days.  When ready to eat, unwrap and microwave about 30 seconds.

Callie, thank you! I  am going to do this plus send your recipe to my son. He will appreciate the fact they freeze and so easy to make.

Jane, I know what you mean about putzing.my date with Jack is over for the time being I am now sewing blocks together now so maybe  there might be more dates

Shirley, life can be cruel for the animals and some do adapt  to their problem. They just have to work a little harder at it. I try to help by putting lots of food out for them.

More about those birds & their messes... we couldn't figure out why our driveway was such a mess along both sides... until we saw a robin walking up & down picking up leaves & tossing onto the concrete... lazy way of looking for worms! Didn't have many messes this year because CallieCat lays out front when the sun is shining & the robins just sit in the tree & fuss at her. Good or bad, she doesn't have a reason to hunt anymore, we have changed her life. I made my kids promise to trap and have the vet put to sleep all 3 if I can't take care of them. They would never adjust to living anywhere else and I don't want them to suffer because WE changed their lives, they are as free as the wild birds in the trees.

I have one more room to change clocks... kitchen stove/oven/microwave. Then I'm done because I think everything else changes automatically. I really think it is crazy to change clocks, sure doesn't change weather or day light!!! Who are we kidding? If "they" want kids to start school earlier or later, why not just change that time?

Your sandwiches sound delicious, Callie. My kids are all dieting so not eating much bread. They will still eat biscuits & gravy given a chance, but all working hard on their bodies. Since I never had to watch what I eat because I burn it off, I tease them about "being no fun to eat with anymore". I'm glad they don't have my fast heart rate & higher than normal BP, but it is normal for me & I'm not going to try to change it now.

I've been thinking all day about my mother's sandwich loaf she made for Garden Club or other organizations that she belonged to. She would call the bakery & have them save a loaf of sandwich bread unsliced. then she would make 2 equal slices the long way (wonder if the bakery did that for her??) Maybe she cut the crusts off first (that became croutons) She made meat spread with ground roast, Miracle Whip/or Mayo, pickle relish, onion, celery & hard boiled eggs chopped fine. The other layer was cheese spread made with Velvetta cheese, Miracle Whip or mayo & chopped pimentoes, had to mash with a potato masher. Then she would "ice" the whole loaf with cream cheese whipped with tiny chunks of pineapple & pineapple juice so it would spread smoothly. When she sliced a piece it made a very pretty "presentation" on a plate. I've never made it for my family, not the loaf... they could live on the meat spread & do love the cheese spread. I'm hoping to have my kids & spouses for a snack & dessert during the Christmas season, no grands or greats, just not up to that many anymore. I will make 2 desserts that my mother was noted for... remember when that chocolate cake was "in" back in the '40s-'50s... that you added the cup of boiling water just before popping into the oven?  She made a "white" fudge icing for it that was always hard & everyone laughed at it but each of us tried a different icing & was not as good. That and the cheese cake with the graham cracker bottom & top.... My son-in-law's mother made it & his favorite thing in the world because it reminds him of her.. & think everyone else likes it as well. SO that's my plan  ~~ and you know what happens with plans. 

Good Morning Everyfriend!  My neighbors left for Florida yesterday so escaped the freezing weather we had overnight.  It was 31 degrees when I got up this morning and it's not going any higher than 42 today.  I think Old Man Winter has moved in!  And they say it's going to be a bad one around here.

I have and ANNOUNCEMENT!  You are all invited to a party in the Soda Shoppe on December 2.  As of yesterday, December 1 will be my last day of employment!  My daughter says "It's waaay past time!  And my Texas daughter says, "now you don't have any excuse for not moving in with me!"  I'm not going that route but it's nice to know she wants me! I'm sure I'll miss the people because I really like the interaction with all those customers.  I'll probably be burning your ears a lot more with my trivial pursuits.

It's almost time for the boinger so I better get moving.  Annie's starting to tell me what time she thinks it is and I have to hold her off until the pill is in her system. 

I wish you all a lovely day!
Make it your own in every way!

P.S. I copied the slider recipe.  I'm always up for something that makes lots and freezes well.

Good snowy morning everyone..

Seems winters is really pushing itself on us this weekend. Snow isn't staying but all too soon it will.

A day of rest here, I don't even have to cook as there is leftovers to heat up!   I would like to sew but will see what the day brings.

Jane YIPPIEEE Dec 1st can't come quick enough. You sure have earned this retirement. IF you find you have time on your hands you may want to volunteer at the hospital??  Now I said IF for I found when we retired we had so many things we wanted to do catch up of or just sit(which doesn't happen ) for the day. What about visiting your Texas daughter for the winter? I also copied Callies recipe and sent it to David, that would be a great food for him when on the road.

Shirley, your Mom's sandwich loaf sounds like a lot of work with delicious results!! My Mom use to do all sorts of fancy sandwiches for showers etc. She would also make baby booties out of Madera (sp) cakes icing them in blue or pink icing with ribbon as the laces.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning everyone. Anyone mixed up with the time change? I woke and it was getting light already but now it will be dark so early, not nice. 34° and every thing covered with frost outside. After all the rain and wind so many trees are bare. Oh well will not be long now till we see them dressed in white.

SHIRLEY  like the saying goes, every one's body is different. The Hempvana is great on my back. Stop hopping and use the rollator as long as you need it.

JANE  glad you are finally going to retire. Just  surprised you did not wait till the end of December.

Sorry I have not written more just read this morning. Really nothing new here as usual and think I am ready for a nap already.

Have a good day.

Just popping in to say Hi....Shirley...read your comment about BP....mine is sometimes higher than usual...on med for it now...hate the side effects...Drs can't seem to prescribe a one a day pill to control it...just my gripe for today...a Blessed Sunday to all reading in this forum