Gary and Jason in the famous "curdled" neck sweaters

They hated these sweaters but I thought they looked really cute in them and I still do!! Hmmm...about 7 and 5 years of age

How Our Ancestors Used to Sleep

I know personally many of you have concern about your sleep pattern. But perhaps you should not.

Barb

How Our Ancestors Used to Sleep Twice a Night and Highlighting the Problem of Present Shock

by Jeremy D. Johnson on August 25, 2013 in stories

8 hour sleeping is a modern invention.

Imagine you are a denizen of the 18th century. It’s just past 8:30 P.M., you’ve got your night-cap on. You blow out your candles and fall asleep to the smell of the wax and the wick, which gently fills the air around your bed. Some hours pass. 2:30 AM. You awaken, grab your coat, and visit the neighbors because they, too, are up. Doing quiet reading, prayer, or even having sex. Well, apparently before the age of electricity, sleeping twice a night was completely ubiquitous.

Back in those times, we slept twice a night, getting up for an hour or two for recreation before heading back to bed until dawn.

From Slumberwise.com:

The existence of our sleeping twice per night was first uncovered by Roger Ekirch, professor of History at Virginia Tech.

His research found that we didn’t always sleep in one eight hour chunk. We used to sleep in two shorter periods, over a longer range of night. This range was about 12 hours long, and began with a sleep of three to four hours, wakefulness of two to three hours, then sleep again until morning.

References are scattered throughout literature, court documents, personal papers, and the ephemera of the past. What is surprising is not that people slept in two sessions, but that the concept was so incredibly common. Two-piece sleeping was the standard, accepted way to sleep.

“It’s not just the number of references – it is the way they refer to it, as if it was common knowledge,” Ekirch says.

An English doctor wrote, for example, that the ideal time for study and contemplation was between “first sleep” and “second sleep.” Chaucer tells of a character in the Canterbury Tales that goes to bed following her “firste sleep.” And, explaining the reason why working class conceived more children, a doctor from the 1500s reported that they typically had sex after their first sleep.

Ekirch’s book At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past is replete with such examples.

But just what did people do with these extra twilight hours? Pretty much what you might expect.

Most stayed in their beds and bedrooms, sometimes reading, and often they would use the time to pray. Religious manuals included special prayers to be said in the mid-sleep hours.

Others might smoke, talk with co-sleepers, or have sex. Some were more active and would leave to visit with neighbours.

As we know, this practice eventually died out. Ekirch attributes the change to the advent of street lighting and eventually electric indoor light, as well as the popularity of coffee houses. Author Craig Koslofsky offers a further theory in his book Evening’s Empire. With the rise of more street lighting, night stopped being the domain of criminals and sub-classes and became a time for work or socializing. Two sleeps were eventually considered a wasteful way to spend these hours.

The science seems to back up our history books. In a 4-week study with 15 men living with restricted daylight hours, something strange started to happen. After catching up on their “sleep debt” – a common state of affairs for most of us – the participants began to wake up in the middle of the night:

They began to have two sleeps.

Over a twelve hour period, the participants would typically sleep for about four or five hours initially, then wake for several hours, then sleep again until morning. They slept not more than eight hours total.

The middle hours of the night, between two sleeps, was characterized by unusual calmness, likened to meditation. This was not the middle-of-the-night toss-and-turn that many of us experienced. The individuals did not stress about falling back asleep, but used the time to relax.

Russell Foster, professor of circadian neuroscience at Oxford, points out that even with standard sleep patterns, this night waking isn’t always cause for concern. “Many people wake up at night and panic,” he says. “I tell them that what they are experiencing is a throwback to the bi-modal sleep pattern.”

Although the article mentions there are no benefits for sleeping twice a night, it’s difficult to imagine there wouldn’t be some major effects on our daily consciousness. How much would we benefit from a few hours of “unusual calmness, likened to meditation”? Seriously. I haven’t tried “bi-modal” sleep, but I think many of us, including myself, have stumbled into it. Our maddeningly busy digital schedules prevent us from considering the possibility, and benefits, of interloping with the sidereal realms of consciousness for more than an 8-hour “sleep debt” crash.

But we can’t go back to a pre-electric lifestyle of early-to-bed, early-to-rise. Yet, maybe we can utilize this knowledge to enhance our quality of life, and open us up to alternative modes of mind and time.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Youtube Video

We spent two summers in the area and loved it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BUOQ_yPW_0s

Won the weather lottery!

We have not only been let out of weather jail we have now won the weather lottery! We have had a few days of perfect weather and they say a long stretch of weather goodies are on the way. Peg and I were on our way to Hobby Lobby today and we were talking about how difficult it is to think of Christmas with temps in the 70's. Even after all the years we have spent Christmas in South Texas it is still a stretch of the imagination for us.

I remember back to the days where we would  watch the weather reports and wonder if we would be able to travel to a relatives place or if the kids would be able to make it home for Christmas. Weather can still be a factor here but really...not so much.

Marlene and Bernard ( Butch's sister and brother-in-law) have made it down  from northern Iowa. We plan to go to Harlingen to see them tomorrow afternoon.

The Hunger Games-Catching Fire

Butch and I have listened to all three books and seen the first movie. So yesterday we went to the second movie in the series of three. As we are walking out of the theater a couple of women were coming out at the same time. They asked me if I had any idea what the movie was about. I told them that yes, I understood what was going on . Come to find out these women knew nothing about the books and had not seen the first movie. They felt they were dropped into the middle of something but did not have any idea what...and they were! Do not try to see this movie if you have not seen the first one at least or you will feel exactly as they did. It does not stand on its own and you do need a base knowledge to enjoy it. We enjoyed it very much and I felt  sorry for these two ladies who had wasted their money.

I forgot all about playing pool this morning. I so wanted to go but still forgot! It is very hard to keep track of everything and still get the basics done at home. No wonder I feel as though I am on vacation when we leave here the first of April.

Back in weather jail.

Expect to be released on Tuesday.

Ethan the Mechanic

He has it jacked up on his tricycle and even has a chock on the back. The chock is on the wrong side but even so...Ethan is 5. And so much fun to watch.

Old email addresses

Sometimes an email address will get hijacked. It happens too darn often actually. I have had it happen and so I changed my password making it tougher. But then it happened again! And then again! And I am thinking, come on now I have done everything I can. Am I going to have to change my email address? I completely forgot about an old roadramblin yahoo email. A few months ago Yahoo stated that if you had not accessed an email account in a years time it would be deleted. It had been well over a year so I dismissed it as done. So after Leo alerted me to a problem I started thinking about how it could have happened and remembered that old email account. So I checked it out. And sure enough I was able to go to the account using that really old and very easy password and all my info was there plus all my contacts! At first I could not find a way to delete the account but finally googled it and it was quite easy. In so doing they did say the account was deactivated but would not be completely gone until 90 days had passed. They said if I pressed that confirm button I would not be able to get into the account. I just this minute tried it and it would not let me in but it did say to press here to reactivate the account. I do not like this! I do not know how hard it would be for someone with an evil intent to reactivate my account. The only thing that gives me comfort is that I changed that little easy password right before I deactivated the account. They would have to know that password to reactivate it.
So I am telling you if you decide to eliminate an old email account change the password first as an extra precaution.
Do you have an old email you no longer use? Check to see if you can get into it. If you can after an extended length of time so can others.

Let out of WEATHER JAIL!!

We have all been let out of weather jail today with temps in the mid 70's. There is more cold stuff on the way but at least they are not predicting a 7-10 day stretch of it. It will be more like normal with a day of cool weather and then a return to normal. We are all ready for normal.
I close all in with cold weather,both physically and mentally. It is no wonder I gained 10 pounds every winter when we lived year round in the north land. Not to mention when you are all covered up in winter gear it is easy to lose track of how you really look. Winter clothes hides bulges,bubbles and blobs quite well and then when we shed those many layers it is easy to find a hidden  chubby wonder you knew nothing about . Oh if only we could all look like we think we look! What a looker I would be. I am truly shocked whenever I look in the mirror and see that old woman looking back at me when there clearly should be something quite slim and truly gorgeous. Oh well, she is pleasant enough to live with even with the distorted mirror. 

Browsing for things I have saved and then forgotten...

Still Cold...

It is still cold by South Texas standards and really, it isn't too bad, but for us it is disruptive.  The shades are pulled. We are all closed up. It is cloudy, drizzly and the high temp is hovering around 50 degrees. More of the same predicted for tomorrow. We are getting our walks in each day...mostly.
I generally do not write much when I am bummed out by...something...or someone...
There are bright spots now and then. They are eluding me at the minute. I am sunshine deprived and I am thinking that may be the only thing that will fix me.

Not today, not tomorrow either....maybe the day after tomorrow.

Seasonal Sorrow

We have never experienced a season in Sunny South Texas such as this one. We have had two Blue Northers that have stuck around way too long and they tell us more is on the way. There is not a sunny face on the weather report for the next 10 days. Boo!! Hiss!!
Thank goodness we have plenty of indoor activities to keep us all busy and so far we are not in danger of slipping on the ice.
I had a good time in the pool hall getting a bit of instruction from Char on the game yesterday morning. Butch may play golf today but he is beyond crazy if he does as the current outdoor temp is 42 at 9:10 AM. Brrr!
We are troopers, aren't we? She says with tongue in cheek.

Big Leo, Keri and grandson Brady

Snipped from Facebook ...looks like fun at the Brooker house!

Groupon?

I have received many good deals through Groupon. One time I purchased a Groupon deal for a sightseeing excursion to the Port of Brownsville and we enjoyed it very much. Here is a referral link if you would like to check out Groupon. Yes, I do benefit if you join and order something using this link. And I thank you very much if you decide to do it. But I also thank you very much for reading the blog.


HTTP://WWW.GROUPON.COM//RAF/USERREFERRAL_RP/121015/10R1ACT/LK/UU4299705



Thank You!!

Hunkered...again

Once again we are hunkered down because of cold weather. That is, we have been ever since the garage sale is over. Once a year we take our excess accumulation of things up to Allen Hall, pay $2 for a table to display our items and wait for the crowds to take our excess from us and release us from the bondage of THINGS. I tell you when I walk out the door after a sale I feel like a new and unencumbered woman. What a thrill!
I came home after the sale with the intention of sitting tight till warm weather returns. I even passed on walking today. The outside temp did  not get past 42 degrees. Another great Chili day so I put it all together in the crockpot and then settled in for a long winters nap.
So despite the bite of cold it has been a very good day.

The lady next to me, Susie, was selling vintage buttons to which she had attached a magnet. My only purchase of the day...besides lunch.

Colleen's Column

My walking buddy Colleen is a writer among her many other talents and her column below grew out of a conversation we had on a morning walk so of course I wanted to share it with you all.

~a column about Jefferson by Colleen O’brien

One of the very clever Jeffersonians who moved back to town over the last decade calls herself and the rest of us returnees the “deja vuers.”

This is an astute observation, a droll way of calling us what we are, for the French phrase “déjà vu” means “already seen.”

Not only have we all seen one another before, we’ve seen Jefferson from the very beginning of our lives, and there are enough places that look the same – the post office, the courthouse, the former high school, the pool, parts of the hospital, the library, the A&W, the cemeteries. And now, to see one another on the street gives me a feeling of this chance encounter having happened many times in my past, however much weightier, gray-haired and decrepit we might be now compared to our déjà vu memories.

There is something about family and old friends: we are indeed old, but most of the time when we’re talking to one another we see our early selves, when we first knew one another. It’s one of the good things about the deja vuness of living in Jefferson in old age.

The phrase déjà vu also means “something overly familiar,” which I find true as I stroll around town catching glimpses of a very young Colleen running along a sidewalk or diving into the pool or walking into the high school band room. Sometimes I see me peering over the top railing of the rotunda in the courthouse. These are places that are so completely familiar to me, so imbedded in my memory, so . . . well, so familiar.

Another definition of “déjà vu” is “the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first time.”

This is a little trickier, but I confess to seeing myself in this definition also. For example, the first time I walked into the Greene Bean, I became slightly disoriented, thinking I’d done this before. I hadn’t. It was never a coffee house, for one thing. And during my entire lifetime, in whatever incarnation the building was used, it did not look like it does right now. I had never been there, whatever my mind was trying to tell me.

I suppose that if I live long enough, everything will take on the déjà vu definitions. After all, by one’s eighth decade, one has seen quite a bit – more than I planned on, sometimes more than I wanted, often more surprising than I ever dreamed life might be; so why not consider oneself an “already seen,” “overly familiar,” “illusion”? This is indeed what advancing-into-old-age is – all of these deja vus.

It makes aging less like a new trail and more like a path I’ve been down before. It is worn, it has weeds growing up the middle, it has a few derelict buildings from long ago, a few ghost-like faces pop up and disappear, but it is familiar, I know this place. Is this just because I live again in Jefferson?

Yet, it is simultaneously an illusion, for the I in the picture is about as recognizable as a cousin in NorthDakota I’ve never met.

Aren’t I still young? Forty-five at the oldest? Fit, working, secure, with a memory?

My illusion is that I am not losing it yet, whatever it is that I actually am losing continuously now, whether it’s my mind or something I’m unaware of losing until it’s gone; or at least gone south. Chins, plural; ear lobes lobing, skin creping, upper arms flapping. I prefer the “overly familiar” Colleen, the one of a single chin and neatly tucked ears, firm skin everywhere, not merely on my little fingers.

It is a weird phenom to think of oneself as a déjà vu– an already seen, overly familiar illusion. Who woulda thought, when I left town in 1962 that I would ever return to live here at all, let alone as an illusion? It’s almost beyond wrapping my mind around . . . this is an example of that earlier thought of mine – “more than I ever dreamed life might be. . . .”

That’s I the deja vuer – more than, less than and by definition not really here at all.

What we did...

Butch played in an out-of-park pool league yesterday morning and then when he returned we went to Mexico, picked up a few meds, did some shopping, ate Pancho's at Elsa's and returned home.
The cold front is expected in the early morning hours of tomorrow. Tomorrow's high of 68 will happen at midnight. This, so far, has been a very different weather pattern than we usually enjoy. But it is what it is and will be what it will be. One thing about it we can usually count on good weather in March. Sometimes it is too good in March!
Today I am going shopping with Peggy. That is and has always been an adventure. Butch will be playing cribbage this afternoon.
Till next time...

Tuesdays are a full day

We have coffee hour in the morning and then golf. I stayed home to get ready for the garage sale. Once a year I pay for a table in Allen Hall and lay out my excess for sale. It keeps things pared down. Saturday is the big day for that. The sale is always held the first Saturday of the month but December is the only one I participate in.
On another note Butch rode his bike through the grass, and that is a no no and in so doing picked up a thorn in his tire. So we went to get it repaired yesterday. $4 for those who would be curious and here is where he went to get it repaired. You might also notice they sell dog houses. I am sure they are almost free!

And then we went to Alicia's so I could have Yolanda cut my hair. She is pictured below with the customer who preceded me.

And by the time we returned home and got our second walk in it was supper time and time for Butch to head to the pool hall.

We Agree

Six rules for RV happiness
by Jim Twamley

I once wrote an article on David and Sue McCarron's Volvo sleeper cab. They are out having the time of their lives RVing around the country and touring local areas on their motorcycles once they set up camp.

David shared his philosophy of RVing which he calls "Six rules for RV happiness."

1. Any driving day must be limited to 250 miles or five hours.

2. Regardless of rule number one, you must stop in time to set up completely in daylight.

3. You must stay set up for at least 48 hours.

4. Because of the size limitations of their 5th wheel, they limit occupancy as follows: drinks for six, dinner for four, sleeps two. The sleeper cab is the "condo" for overnight guests.

5. The driver does not start the engine until the "navigoddess" knows where they are going and how they are going to get there.

6. If you're in snow, you're doing it wrong!

* * *

Every Monday Morning...

I refill our weekly vitamin containers for the week each Monday morning. It really boggles my mind how quickly that day comes around each week. I do not seem to do too much but it gets more difficult to catch up. Catch up, you say? With what? Beats me but the time it does fly. I read a little, bead a little, compute quite a bit and help others with their computers. Throw meal prep, laundry, cleaning and dealing with Butch into the mix and my time is completely filled!
I do like it much better than the opposite of all this, so do not get me wrong. It is all good and I am not complaining. Oh yes, the current temperature is 78 degrees and the windows are open. Yeah, God!

Georgia Girls

Granddaughter Ann and her 3 girls, Nina, Scarlett and new baby Skylar.

Nina

Nina on the right will be 5 tomorrow. I love this sister picture. Scarlett is on the left.

Nina

Scarlett

The Princess and the Tree

Miss Elise- Age 3

Leo climbs the stairs

At 8 months!

Happy Thanksgiving "Belated"

We went to Allen Hall for the annual Thanksgiving feast and for the first time in a very long time I feasted too much and felt slightly miserable for much of the day. We did get both of our walks done and I am sure that was helpful to my suffering body. I ate supper after 7:00 PM and it consisted of an apple and that was more than enough.
Our wonderful weather has returned with high's in the 70's. After computer class today I plan to remove the bubble wrap and put it away for the next blue norther. I would like to think it was the only one of the season but that is not being too realistic. We usually have at least one in January or February sometimes more but usually not lasting more than a day or two.
Butch is catching up on Downton Abbey and I might add it has been pleasant for me watching it for the second time. He is about to see the last episode and no, he is not going to like it either. I remember being shocked at how they ended season 3 but it did raise the bar on wanting to watch the next season and the next season is not too far off. I think it is January 5th on Sunday nights on PBS.

And this is what I posted on Facebook yesterday and it still holds true today:
Thankful for a loving and understanding family of our wandering ways, a roof over our head, a furnace to keep us warm, adequate shoes and clothes, the right kinds of foods for our bodies and each other. Everything else is fluff.

I might add I am also grateful for the AC when we need it too.

Still cold

We are in our 4TH day of 40 degree temps. It did warm up to tolerable yesterday and when we went for our walk there were people out and about doing this and that. Last night the weatherman said it would be 90 by Sunday! Try living with that temperature range! I hope he is wrong. 80 would be just fine. So it looks like I can remove the bubble wrap soon. If you know me at all you know I am not a cave person. I do not like my windows covered up so I will be most happy to have it warm enough to open all the windows.

Productive Day

Bernie's Fruitcake has been assembled, baked and marinating in the fridge until time for serving. I love Bernie's fruitcake so when I share with you it is special.
 Here is Bernie's recipe.

Recipe:   Bernie's Fruitcake    

Category: Holiday

Author:   Bernie Craig

2 C Flour

1 1/2 C Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

4 eggs

3 T butter-room temp.

4 -8 oz. Jars Whole Maraschino Cherries (Drain 3 jars)

2 C Pecan halves or pieces

2 C Walnut halves or pieces

1 LB. Raisins

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Add

remaining ingredients one at a time in the order listed, mix gently.

Pour in ungreased tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Increase heat to 325 degrees and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let cool in pan

then remove. Wrap in foil or plastic and store in refrigerator. Allow 1 to 2 days for

flavors to mingle before serving.

I never liked fruitcake until I tasted Bernies. :-)
***************************************************************************************

In addition to the fruitcake I cleaned out a couple of cupboards...and then of course we did do our two walks in 47 degree weather. It really isn't too bad once you are dressed for it and had a day to get a bit more used to it. Also the bubble wrap for covering the windows has been a help not only with the cold but also the condensation that also goes along with cold weather in an RV.

Under 50

It did not make it to 50 degrees today. The bubble wrap( see earlier post) is helping to make our spot much cozier and it did not take me long to set it up. When I take it down I will roll it up and put it away for the next cold snap. This one is supposed to last till next Friday. That is a long time for a cold snap here.
We had chili today as I suspect nearly everyone in the park did. Butch and I faithfully walked our two times today dressed in our winter wear and we could smell chili simmering in several locations.
When I encounter an unpleasant sensation such as cold weather I have noticed that my inclination is to stay still until it passes. That works fine if you have a cold or the flu but not so much for cold weather. I must get busy tomorrow and actually do something. Feeling as though you have wasted a day is another unpleasant sensation.

Sweat to freeze

This morning it was so hot and muggy you would not believe it wasn't mid July in Iowa and then at about 3:00 PM it started to drop as the "blue norther" came barreling through. Lightning, thunder, wind and rain...lots of rain and as I write it is still raining and the furnace comes on periodically. Now mind you at 3:00 PM we had the AC on because it was nearly unbearable at 87 degrees and about 95% humidity. Current temp is 51 and dropping. They are telling us we are in for an entire weekend of temps in the 40's with daytime temps and night time temps not differing very much. Now we have had this kind of weather in the past but not in November for crying out loud! So we are all hunkered down for a long winters nap. Actually Butch is in the pool hall. It was raining when he left and it is still raining ...hard, 2 hours later. I have plenty of activities to keep me busy but the old guy will surely get restless although he is much better about that than when he was a young man.
I plan to get some baking done and some drawers cleaned and perhaps some beading. Butch has started watching the Downton Abbey series on Amazon so that should entertain him for quite some time. He is still in the first season. I am looking forward to the new season. I think the date is January 5th, 2014. In Iowa I watch PBS a bunch. It is my favorite station. Down here it is owned and operated by the catholic church and it is very different experience from what I see in Iowa.
Butch and I were thinking about Elise this morning and how her Nana Susan's pantry is her favorite feature of  her grandparents home. Butch says it is her own Home Shopping Network. After a meal she wants to check out the pantry for dessert. When we were there she chose Pringles for her "dessert". She is quite the little lady.
Yesterday I washed up 4 average sized sweet potatoes and threw them in the crockpot on low (High for 4-5 or low for 6-8) and they were the best sweet potatoes I have had in a very long time. Keep the skins ON and do NOT add water. It is my method of choice for sweet potatoes from here on out. Loved them and so did Mr. Pickypants!

Busy day of details and a few tips

We went to Walmart and picked up some new wiper blades for the car,then to HEB for a few groceries and then to the Flea market for some watermelon.
Doesn't sound like much as I wrote it but it took half a day to get done. We have been running the AC because the humidity has been so high but come this weekend we are to get a whole week of cool temps with highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's. Bernie's fruitcake will be made this weekend and that should help warm up the place. We will close up the shades and maybe even use the bubble wrap tip if it feels too cool in here. The motorhome does not hold the heat like a stick built house or even as well as a mobile home. So these little extra measures help a lot.
Tip for winter: To cut down on cold transfer through your glass windows cover them with bubble wrap. I put bubble wrap on our up north door windows before we left too.

And here is another tip I can pass on today just because they have been a topic of conversation lately. Butch has had to switch to a stronger form of allergy medication. This is not unusual for him down here. If he catches it soon enough it is much more manageable. For me that medication keeps me wide awake if I use the non-drowsy ones. It has never affected Butch that way...until this time. So after two nights of being wide awake for most of it he took some melatonin and that has done the trick. He has slept fine now for the past two nights. It is one of those over the counter things that one should keep on hand.

Another tip:
Jason was telling us that Laura has a snoring problem. Jason's snoring drives her nuts. It doesn't bother Jason at all, thus it is Laura's problem. They were watching an infomercial for a mouthpiece to stop snoring. It was pricey of course but Jason being the innovative person he is says it is nothing but a football mouthpiece so he went to a sporting goods store and bought one. He says it is important that your jaw jut a bit forward so it took a bit to get it formed correctly but he reports that it works very well and for a fraction of the cost. Hey, It might be worth a try for peace and quiet in your happy home.

And here is a pic from our house to yours. Ripe Olives over on Cherry street

Big little Leo

Thanks Amanda for this great pic of your growing boy.

Costco Run

Peggy and I went to Costco today. Shopping wears me out. But I did find some great fitting jeans and some super delicious Bartlett Pears and a few other things I really like. Back to the Bartlett pears. In my growing up years we had a pear tree on our property and today's delicious pear experience took me back there in a heartbeat and added to that, pears were also one of J. R. Brooker's (Butch's Dad) favorite fruits. And J. R. Brooker was one of my favorite guys.
Butch played golf and came close to getting a hole in one. On the 9th hole and a par 4 hole his drive was two feet from the hole. He was pumped. Would someone please remind him of this when he says he hasn't played good golf for over a year? The only thing wrong with his golf game is his memory.

Heat and Humidity

Tonight on the news the weatherman said the "cold" front headed our way is going to stall out just north of the lower valley and then in a day or two it will turn around and head north as a warm front. I bet you have always wondered where those warm fronts come from and now you know. The cold fronts come down here and get warmed up then turn around and go the other way! Who knew?!

He also said that Sunday would feel... I am trying to remember the word and can't... but he meant it would be a real cold front and it would get here and be genuine. I may do some baking that day. I have been wanting to make Bernie's Fruitcake. We will always remember you and your fruitcake Bernie Craig.

This mornings beginning outdoor temp was 75 degrees and the air hit like a wet cloth the minute you opened the door. Butch came to get me because they needed another shuffler and I said I would fill in. It was fun and I am glad I did.
Till next time...

Shuffle Day

Butch shuffled this morning and golfed this afternoon. Peggy and I went to the flea market. I needed some Rada knives and so I loaded up. I left some of my faves in  Iowa so needed some duplicates. It is still kind of quiet at the flea market so it is a good time to be there.
Earlier I called Discover card because I had left one of the cards I use in Iowa and I wanted to see what it would take to get a card sent to me here. As it turns out it is possible but they did ask me a couple of security questions that surprised me.
1. What state does Susan Brooker live in ?
2. What street did you live on in Cumberland?

Now of course I knew the answers to both of those questions but I thought the questions themselves were unusual and rather clever of them to ask. I was impressed with their level of carefulness.

And now for something completely different...
Every now and then I hit "paste" just to see what it was I last copied. As it turns out it is something worthwhile to read. It is about computer security. It is becoming a bigger issue with each day that passes. This is a lengthy but worthwhile read and just might keep you from getting yourself into a pickle. So read all the way to the end to find out how alt and F4 could save your behind.
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/new/heres-how-you-get-malware-via-trickery-and-deceit/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thundercloud%2FIapJ+%28Cloudeight+InfoAve+Computer+Tips+%29

Mustaches on GreatGrands

                                                   
                                                    Elise and Leo with different kinds of mustaches. I understand Leo's is made of spinach.

Cold Day

You get acclimated to your surroundings and the ambient temperature of same. If you have a temp of 85 with high humidity one day and a high of 60 the next day with a north wind you are going to suffer from the cold as if it were below zero.  So yes, it was cold today...damn cold. We did take our two walks today but I for one walked at a much faster pace than ordinary. And we did not see people standing on corners waiting to find someone to engage in conversation.
We had soup for supper and I will call it Throw Together Soup. Made with leftover rotisserie chicken. I started off with a can of chicken broth and a handful or two of chopped onion, celery, green pepper and celery-cooked for 5 or 10 minutes then I added a can of black beans,washed and drained, corn,drained and rotel diced tomatoes and then I added a couple of cups of chicken chunks and a couple of 1 inch slices/chunks of velveeta cheese. Butch said it was a winner. I thought it was mighty tasty myself. Sometimes those things just work out.

Busy Day...

It started off well. I had been thinking I had added a few pounds over the summer. Well, I had not stepped on the scale since leaving Jefferson. I finally decided I really needed to know where I stand so I can get tough on myself if needed. I was pleasantly surprised to find I weigh the same as I did when I left here last Spring. For me that is a victory and a gift!
I have a tolerance level for my living space wherever it is. This is an invisible line where I can no longer stand the accumulation of dirt, clutter etc. I crossed the line yesterday so I spent a big chunk of today cleaning in between the two walks of the day. Butch and I have been faithful in getting those two walks in every day. I am proud of both of us.
Our friends the Stilson's won a trip to a Nascar event in Florida. They left today and will be gone for a week. Kay enters contests all the time and wins more often than you might think. On this particular contest she went to Menards to buy Fischer Peanuts that happened to be on sale and while picking them up she noticed an entry for this contest. Fischer happened to have a car entered in the event. She sent in this lone entry and happened to win! The Grand Prize no less-an all expense paid trip to Florida to attend the event plus $1500 in spending money. They will be full of stories when they return. Bill did say he would need his friends to help with pecans when he gets back because he will be way behind.
Butch played golf and pool and escorted me to the grocery store. And that reminds me...last night on the news they were telling us that the businesses along the Texas border are expected to be very busy with Mexican shoppers especially after the first of the year when Mexico implements their new rate of 16% sales tax. I have yet to find out if this will affect the purchasing of meds for Winter Texans when we venture over to Mexico for that purpose. Just what we need is busier stores!
Tomorrow is another day...highs in the 60's. Brrr

Well, Here we are...

They say a cold front is coming but I am sitting here with the windows open and outside temp is 72. It is rather difficult to have a firm grip in your head that it really is fall and very close to Thanksgiving. It always seems a bit weird. I doubt that would be true had we grown up here. The propane guy came today ($2.80 per gallon) and he was telling Butch that when he grew up here they did  not have sand burs and now they are everywhere. I have no idea of the validity of his recollection. The sand burs are abundant and painful That much I do know.
Here are a few pictures taken in the last few days and explanations of same.

These are oranges and color is not an indication of ripeness with citrus...a little known fact imparted to us last season when we purchased grapefruit at Thompson's Grove. And these two oranges are ripe and ready for eating.

The Gordon's and the Stilson's were at Riverside for tenderloins and I asked them to turn around. Peg was sure I would rather take one of her butt. Her grandson, Austin asked me when he was 4 if I wanted a picture of his butt. I said yes. He is now 13. I should try to find that picture.

This is probably a hibiscus but I am not certain. The color is this brilliant. I did not enhance these photos.

There is an abundance of wildlife in the cactus as indicated by the nest below.

  A Mockingbird gets a drink at the Van Houweling residence.

Gary's desktop collage

Reminder...and thanks!

Gary asks:

Our school is trying to win $50k. To do it they need people to vote for their entry in the 

http://www.battleofthebrainskc.com

The entry for the Drexel school is titled "Brain Surge".

Greene County Iowa News ONLINE!

For all my Greene County Iowa friends you do not need to read it on Facebook. It is online so you can see it anywhere.
http://greenecountynewsonline.com/

Elise and Leos Grandpa Gary asks a favor

Gary asks:

Our school is trying to win $50k. To do it they need people to vote for their entry in the 

http://www.battleofthebrainskc.com

The entry for the Drexel school is titled "Brain Surge". So click on "How to vote" near the top right of the website. Starts tomorrow.

Barb says:

So help my boy out. We will all be grateful. He is counting on me to have thousands of followers. Yeah, right!

Article about our friend Lum

Many of you may remember us talking fondly of our friend Lum. Well here is an article about him and a small glimpse as to why we know he is such a special guy.
http://www.kiwanis.org/kiwanis/stories/headlines/kiwanis/2013/10/21/cancer-survivor-spreads-hope#.Unmum_ke-Sp

Teeter Family

Brad and Amanda Teeter Family

Leo Teeter-7 months old.

Elise the wood nymph 

These are all pictures I snipped from Facebook. I had quite a time choosing the ones I wanted because they were all good.