My money is definitely easy to count . . . sigh!

"If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars."
-- J. Paul Getty

"But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown."
-- Carl Sagan

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
-- Groucho Marx

"Last night somebody broke into my apartment and replaced everything with exact duplicates... When I pointed it out to my roommate, he said, 'Do I know you?'"
-- Steven Wright

A good one to quote . . .

Even a mosquito doesn't get a slap on the back until it starts to work.

- Unknown

More on the light side . . .

"People are, if anything, more touchy about being thought silly than they are about being thought unjust."
-- E. B. White

"The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided."
-- Casey Stengel

"Exit, pursued by a bear."
-- William Shakespeare

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people."
-- W. C. Fields

Invincible ignorance?

A friend called me last night with her stomach in knots and her heart burdened by a confrontation she experienced at church, yesterday. Now, she attends what is considered an ultra-conservative parish with a pastor that adheres to the Rubrics and demands modest attire at Mass. You can imagine my friend's shock when she pulled into the parking lot and saw a car sporting a brand new obama bumper sticker!

My friend went into the church. She had come to help with the weekly cleaning. There were two very elderly ladies already at work. My friend said, "Ladies! I'm in shock. I can't believe what I just saw in the parking lot . . . at this parish!" Naturally, they were curious and my friend said, "Who in attendance at this parish would be supporting obama?" One lady immediately owned up and said, "That is my car and I'm proud of my support of obama." The other old lady piped in with, "Me, too!"

Now, my friend was really floored. She said, "But this president is adamantly in favor of abortion. He voted against the Born Alive Act when he was a senator. He rescinded all of President Bush's protections for the unborn within days of taking office." One of the women flatly stated, "You can't believe everything you read." The other one snarled, "I guess that means you won't want to clean the church with us now!"

My friend kindly said, "I came to clean God's house." and went about her work. It was with much sadness knowing that these elderly women hadn't done any research or even knew what they were voting for in  2008 and, obviously, how they were voting in 2012! Where have they been and what news have they been watching? Didn't they hear about the mandate against the Catholic Church? Have they bothered to read the health care reform which isn't good news for seniors? Don't they have children and grandchildren that can't find jobs because of all that has happened in the last three and a half years? Isn't their Catholic Faith supposed to come ahead of politics?

Besides being a dear friend, my friend called me because, as she put it, she understands more fully what I went through at my parish when several elderly ladies also got on my case when I said I wasn't voting for obama. To this day, they stick their noses in the air when they go past me into daily Mass yet they receive Communion. One of them did go as far as to say she would like to see where it was written that obama was in favor of abortion. I ran off his senate record as well as what he has done since president. I handed it to her, she stuffed it in her purse, and hasn't spoken to me since. "None so blind as those who will not see . . ."

Instead of quilting, yesterday . . .

I was getting tired of quilting this week but forged on in order to get some baby quilts completed. I was very happy to get a tote bag order and got to spend yesterday afternoon sewing the bag. I discovered the fabric at the fabric warehouse and wondered how I would use it and when I would have a chance to sew something out of it. Guess that moment arrived. Nothing like having a challenge and getting paid for it, too.

Worth sharing . . .

"No one gossips about other people's secret virtues."
-- Bertrand Russell

"The greatest mystery is not that we have been flung at random between the profusion of matter and of the stars, but that within this prison we can draw from ourselves images powerful enough to deny our nothingness."
-- Andre Malraux

"Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories - those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost."
-- Russell Baker

"There's so much pollution in the air now that if it weren't for our lungs there'd be no place to put it all."
-- Robert Orben

Two Ways to Easy Cake . . .

I like to fuss in the kitchen but there are days when I have to get something in the oven fast and appreciate throw-together recipes. This is one of those recipes. I've seen several versions of it but this is the way I like to do it.

Living on Easy Cake - #1
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons baking soda
Smidge of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Grated zest of one lemon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 20-ounce can pineapple tidbits, undrained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray a 9x11-inch baking pan or two smaller pans. You can divide it between two 8 or 9-inch round ones to have one cake today and another one for breakfast tomorrow . . . after the children and husband are off for the day, of course! Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix to just combine. Baking time will depend on the size of the pan but approximately 20-30 minutes. Check after 15 minutes to see how it is going. Living on Easy Cake - #2 1 cup granulated sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 teaspoons baking soda Smidge of salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Grated zest of one lemon 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 2 cups canned apple slices, undrained 1/4 cup water if the canned apples don't seem to have enough liquid. (I've used brandy with good results!) Prepare and bake as for the Living on Easy Cake - #1. Remove from the oven when done and cool thoroughly before icing the cake(s). You now have a decision to make: Lemon or Chocolate Icing? Lemon Icing 2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Enough fresh lemon juice to form a pourable but somewhat thick icing. Chocolate Icing 2 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Dash of cinnamon 1/4 cup baking cocoa Enough milk or cream to form a pourable but somewhat thick icing. (Believe it or not, but Chocolate Icing tastes good with pineapple!) If you have the time, toasting the nuts brings the recipe to a whole, new level. Just be sure the nuts are cooled down before using.

Mark Steyn at his best . . .

I enjoy listening to and reading commentary by Mark Steyn. He manages to put into perspective the woes of the day and give us a grin along with the facts. The Democrats started the 'war on dogs' when they bashed Romney for letting his dog ride on a carrier on the roof of their car. Soon, it was discovered that the president had eaten dog as a child. The Democrats soon realized the conservatives were getting more laughs over this then they could appreciate. It hardly seemed the stuff of politics given the mess the United States is in right now but, as we often hear on the playground, "They started it!"

Now they are taking jabs at Romney being a Mormon. Mark Steyn, as usual, puts it all together for us in a recent column and leaves us chuckling.

Brian Schweitzer, the Democrat governor of Montana, remarked that Romney was unlikely to appeal to women because his father was "born on a polygamy commune." Eighty-six percent of women, noted Gov. Schweitzer with a keenly forensic demographic eye, are "not great fans of polygamy." You can understand the 86 percent's ickiness at the whole freaky-weirdy idea of a president descended from someone who had multiple wives. Eww.

Just for the record, Romney's father was not a polygamist; Romney's grandfather was not a polygamist; his great-grandfather was a polygamist. Miles Park Romney died in 1904, so one can see why this would weigh heavy on 86 percent of female voters 108 years later.

Meanwhile, back in the female-friendly party, Obama's father was a polygamist; his grandfather was a polygamist; and his great-grandfather was a polygamist who had one more wife (five in total) than Romney's great-grandfather. It seems President Obama is the first male in his line not to be a polygamist. So, given the "gender gap," maybe those 86 percent of American women are way cooler with polygamy than Gov. Schweitzer thinks. Maybe these liberal chicks really dig it.

I guess you could say (again!), "They started it!"

Rain to sunshine . . .

As usual, the rain quickly dried up from yesterday and the temperatures are heading towards the eighties by the weekend. My husband is hoping for a cold, June Gloom weather situation this year as he has to tear down a fence and haul it away that month. Not a job for a triple-digit day.

Anyway, I enjoyed the sunshine with our uninvited orange cat and found some blossoms in my husband's garden. The direct sunshine was casting some sharply lined shadows so, naturally, I had to snap pictures of that, too.

The voting booth is now open . . . WIDE open . . .

It is amazing to me that anyone can oppose checking ID when you go to vote. The only reason anyone would be against such a requirement is to perpetuate voter fraud. And you don't have to wonder much why anyone would want to insure uncaught voter fraud . . . in order to steal someone else's vote and stuff the ballot box with your choice to win an election unfairly.

I just read that the judges in Wisconsin are blocking the voter requirement in Wisconsion. Gosh, I wonder if it could do with the fact that they are trying to recall the governor and want to make sure they don't lose? What happened to one vote to each eligible person and the best man wins? From what I understand, Governor Walker has brought the state back from the brink yet greedy people who don't want to take cuts, etc., would rather cut off their noses to spite their faces than recognize the fact that something worked.

I imagine that we will be seeing more and more of this sort of behavior this November when our current administration may have to rely on tactics rather than a reasonable voting platform. So far, there isn't much to recommend a second term based on past performance.

The fact that the election might be swayed by improper voting won't keep me from the polls, however. Every vote counts and if we go to the voting booth with a good heart and a prayer, miracles happen in spite of human deceit and antics.

Mr. Einstein had it right . . .!

"The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter-he's got to just know."
-- Will Rogers

"If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee -- that will do them in."
-- Bradley's Bromide

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is at all comprehensible."
-- Albert Einstein

Pizza Night!

Trying to keep within the budget, we went through the refrigerator and found cheese and a bit of bacon and salami so it was definitely a sign that pizza should be on the menu tonight. I was also inspired by a cookbook my husband brought home from the library.

According to the book, if you heat up a baking stone at 500 degrees and place it directly under the broiler, the pizza will bake up quickly and taste like a gourmet treat. It did! The crust was crisp and slightly charred but in a good way. The toppings melted and the bacon cooked almost crisp.

My husband taught himself to bake when he was a bachelor so acquired some specialty items for the kitchen that I gladly took over when we married. The baking stone was one of those items. As you can see from the picture, the baking stone has seen a lot of baking in it's time.

My two children, currently residing at home, must have liked the pizza as they asked for a second one each. I didn't get my pizza until the very last but I think the wait was worth it as I had really gotten the hang of baking them under the broiler by then.

It's great the way few ingredients and a little work can produce a fun meal for little cost other than the effort.

And, he was a great painter, too . . .!

"The greater danger for most of us is not
that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it."- Michelangelo

Sunny California?

The weatherman was right . . . rain! It wasn't throughout the day but the couple of storms really drenched us for awhile. The advantage of our usual dry weather is that no matter how much rain falls, within an hour of stopping, it is hard to tell we had a storm at all.

Perfect considering our world today . . .

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

- Martin Luther King

Simple Broccoli Beef

 I like to cook Asian food and there are many ways to fix this family favorite. On a lazy evening, this is my go-to recipe for a fast, relatively easy meal.





Broccoli Beef
1 pound of fresh broccoli
1/2 pound thinly sliced beef
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
vegetable oil as needed
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Dash salt
2-3 teaspoons brandy

Cut the broccoli into large, bite-sized pieces. Steam or boil until they are almost done, about two minutes. Drain immediately and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, drain and set aside.

Toss the beef with soy sauce, cornstarch, and pepper.

In a wok or frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat until it starts to smoke. Add beef and stir-fry to the doneness you prefer usually about two minutes. Remove from the pan

Add another tablespoon of vegetable oil to your cooking pan or wok and return to heat. Add the ginger and cook for two seconds to bring out the scent. Add broccoli, sugar, salt, brandy, and two tablespoons of water. Stir and cook until the water is just about gone. Return meat to the pan, toss with broccoli to heat and serve.

Jasmine rice goes great with this. I've also served it with angel hair pasta with good results. If you are into Asian foodstuffs, there are a variety of long noodles that would work with this, too.

Where does 'smart' get you . . . good quotes!

"Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices."
-- Laurence J. Peter

"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it."
-- Leo Rosten

Jesus should be acknowledged outside of church, too . . .

The shooting of the young black teen in Florida has been on the news for weeks now and how can it not given the circumstances. It is a tragic mistake/accident about which the courts have yet to convene and decide. Meanwhile, tempers are flaring, racial comments are flying, and some factions like nothing better than to inflame the masses. No matter how it happened, it left questions and a young man dead.

It is heart-rending, however, that instead of learning a lesson from this and coming together to figure out a solution to all the horrible things that happen in the world, some people are taking this injustice into their own areas of life and innocent people are being hurt in the name of the young man who died in Florida. The man who shot the teen in Florida has been called all kinds of names and is basically regarded by many as a murderer, an animal . . . Someone who took it upon himself to kill another because of race.

Interesting . . . Since this all came to light over the last few weeks, there are been two reported instances of people being horribly beaten by others in 'the name' of the dead Florida teen. I'm at a loss to understand how this justifies anything. Doesn't an attack on an innocent person come under the title of attempted murder done by people acting irrationally? How does it help the family of the deceased teen or the world to deliberately beat up other people?

Just this week, a man was beat up by 20-some people and is in a partial coma and in critical condition. His 'sin'? He was white and he asked some teens at after eight in the evening if they could hold down the noise of their game. In most cities, there is a ordinance about disturbing the peace after a certain hour. From what has been reported to date, family of the teens showed up at his door and beat him savagely on his own property. According to one of the parents, they resented him complaining about the noise and that they are just happy the boys stay close to home so they will keep out of trouble, etc.  Yet, the example set to these teens was anything but a good one.

People argue that the problems in the country are economics, greedly corporations, etc. when I see the basis for all this in feelings of entitlement and a tragic loss of human kindness and God in our lives. Often the big picture has it's roots in little things. Prayer can turn a hard heart faster and more surely than a gang of people intent on doing someone hurt because of their own frustrations and shortcomings. We are often told that we might be the only Bible a person every 'reads'. What book were these hate mongers representing when they used their fists instead of their minds and heart?

Hamburgers every which way but uneaten . . .!

Every time I think about cooking dinner on the outside grill, the weather changes and we get cooler temperatures and rain. Guess what? The weather is cool and there is rain!

My family likes hamburgers very much whether they are grilled or seared in the frying pan inside the house. I thought I'd share some ideas for increasing the taste value of your next hamburger dinner and surprising your family. Remember your basic seasonings of salt and pepper to taste when you add more ingredients.

1. Put some grated sharp cheddar mixed in the meat before you form the hamburgers. It helps keep the meat juicy and add that cheese tang that is so popular.

2. My husband likes crumbled Feta cheese and dried dill in his hamburgers. I like to assemble my burger with thin slices of cucumber and tomato - kind of like having a Greek meal in a bun.

3. For a spicy burger, some chili flakes and a small can of diced green chilies with grated Monterey Jack cheese is different.

4. Add some diced onion and a packet or two of dry Ranch dressing to your mixture.

5. Add a packet of dry spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese to your ground meat. Top with a slice of Provolone cheese for the total Italian experience.

6. Add a cup of the canned, fried onions to your hamburger mix.

7. Use half ground pork and half ground beef. The ground pork is lower fat these days so you can enjoy the flavor and not worry too much about the fat.

8. I pureed a mixture of fresh cranberries, mayo, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, Basil, and a touch of mustard and used it for a topping along with the usual ones found on a hamburger.

9. You can season some Panko crumbs with your favorite herbs and some grated Romano or Parmesan and press them into both sides of your hamburgers before you cook them. It add some crunch.

10. Make meatloaf burgers by adding the seasonings for meatloaf along with bread crumbs, and a egg or two for binding it together. However you like your meatloaf, you can incorporate it into a burger.

Napping is exhausting work . . .

 The stray cat that has decided that we are his new home can always be found napping in the bushes. I came upon him this afternoon and got two pictures snapped before he mostly opened his eyes to see what was going on. I put the pictures in order and, as you can see, he soon got bored and did the only reasonable thing . .    . he went back to sleep.

While Chick's Away . . .

 Chick was basking in the sunshine . . . on the other side of the yard so the lizards knew it was safe to come out. Now, Chick doesn't want to hurt the lizards but she doesn't know her own strength. For some reason, the lizards are larger than usual this year. I figure they either survived Chick's hunting skills last year or they are Ninji Lizards out for revenge on Chick.

Chick the Dog's Exhausting Morning . . .

 Chick enjoys it when we our outside with her. She follows us everywhere we go between hunting for lizards. As you can see, this is an exhausting life for a dog and she soon needs to stretch out and relax and wait, perhaps, for a treat?

The view down by my feet . . .

 I went out to take pictures this morning. The sky was cloudy with shafts of sunshine but it wasn't a very clear day for photos. I was wandering back into the house when I glanced down and noticed the dandelions puffing into the new day. Yes, I know my husband isn't happy to see them. I also know that my son has since mowed down the backyard but I'm glad a captured the moment. Even a weed deserves it's day!

Homemade Sunshine . . .

This is one of my favorite cookies. They go well with a cool drink on a warm afternoon. It's time to get some goodies baked and stashed away in the freezer before it is way to hot to even light a match!

TRUE GRIT COOKIES
The cornmeal creates an interesting texture while the citrus give these cookies an unusual perk.

½ cup butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
Grated zest of two lemons and two oranges
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in egg, vanilla and zest. Add flour, cornmeal and baking powder until completely blended. Shape into rolls directly on sheet of waxed paper. Chill for at least two hours. May be kept up to three days in refrigerator.

Unwrap dough. Using a sharp knife, cut into 1/8-inch slices. Place about 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake in a 325-degree oven until pale gold, about ten to 15 minutes. Makes about four dozen cookies.

The first quote describes 2012 . . .

"In politics, absurdity is not a handicap."
-- Napoleon Bonaparte

"Fathers send their sons to college either because they went to college or because they didn't."
-- L. L. Henderson

"Children are all foreigners."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet."
-- Woody Allen

An afternoon of cutting and pinning . . .

 I'm making some baby quilts and got four of them pinned and ready for quilting. I like making the small quilts as I can get creative but only have a small space to work and finish. I'm trying to use up 'loose' ends of fabric and get some room in my fabric cupboard. My husband's rule is that anything I buy has to fit in the cupboard. So far, he kind of believes that the stack of fabric on top of the cupboard is a project in the works! Technically, it will eventually turn into a project, right? Unfortunately, my daughter remarked on it but he kind of already knew. He couldn't have been too worried about the space problem as he treated me to a trip to the fabric warehouse over the weekend.

Be Holier Than Thou . . . Just Wait Your Turn!

Be Holier Than Thou . . . Just Wait Your Turn!
My Rant for the Day!

I never imagined the day would come but I believe there is a desperate call today for a book on etiquette . . . for attending Mass! It seems it would go without saying that a certain decorum is exceedingly desirable when assisting at Mass, starting when you drive into the parking lot. Sadly, too many people prepare for the Eucharist with behavior inconsistent to a Christian outlook before they even enter the doors of the church. And these manners or their lack thereof, can be seen to one degree or another in many churches.

One Sunday, we were trying to enter the parking area in order to attend Mass. Because of timing, there were many cars seeking the exit by people who had just been to Mass. All we wanted to do was pull in and park but almost each and every person made sure they were bumper to bumper lest any other car get ahead of them. More than a few cars inched past before someone was kind enough to give us a turn.

Settling into a pew was a minimum problem. A few people took up residence on the outside seat but didn’t grimace too much when we clambered over them to get a seat.

Although I was brought up to spend my first few minutes in church greeting God, the exchange of pleasantries among some of the people in the congregation made it difficult to concentrate. At one point, a teenage boy turned all the way around, presenting his back to the altar, in order to carry on a lively conversation with a friend seated behind him. The parents? They were sitting right there, engaged in their own social exchange.

While the majority of the Mass was relatively quiet, communion time must have touched upon a competitive spirit as everyone wanted to reach the communion rail now, even if they had to race from the last pew in the back of the church. One friend said she was trying to reach the aisle from the third pew from the front. Only to be almost forcibly pushed back by an obviously fervent communicant who couldn’t wait for her turn.

Once upon a time, the worst you could do was forget to bring a head covering. Now it is often the manners that are left behind. Once the joke was that someone left their religion at the holy water font upon exiting the church. Too often, now a days, our charitableness, manners and Christianity don’t even make it inside the building. It seems that if we make the effort to be at Mass, we might take it that further step and try to see the Christ in the neighbors that surround us.

One pastor, in trying to encourage respect before the Blessed Sacrament, put up a tasteful sign along the beams near the front of the altar. Though they say it all - HOUSE OF GOD - HOUSE OF PRAYER, there have been moments when I thought “Sit down and shut up” would be more to the point.

Nothing more to say . . . !

"I think that I shall never see / a billboard lovely as a tree. / Perhaps, unless the billboards fall, / I'll never see a tree at all."
-- Ogden Nash

Of possible interest . . .

Just updated my Yahoo group with new items for sale. You are invited to take a look and if you check under PHOTO on the site (Barbara's Latest Creations . . .), you can see some of the handiwork I've mentioned on the blog here. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CatholicCornerforCrafts/

Speaking of which, I've taken a break from 'regular' sewing to make some baby quilts for Pro-Life centers. I used to do more but time and children curtailed my sewing time. Now that I've found some extra minutes in my day, I've rooted through my stored projects and have four baby quilts in the works. My progress today was getting borders on the four sets of pieced squares.

It gives one pause . . .

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction."
-- Blaise Pascal

A year-round holiday favorite recipe . . .

This is a favorite recipe in our home. It is a bit denser than pumpkin bread but still imparts a fruity, spicy flavor that works well for dessert with ice cream or for a quick breakfast with a hot cup of coffee. It can be dressed up a bit with a lemon glaze. Makes the whole house smell very homey, too.

Yam Bread

2/3 cup shortening
2 2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups cooked yams
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cups coarsely chopped nuts
2/3 cup raisins (optional)

Whip up the yams until fairly smooth.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of two loaf pans, 9x5x3 inches.

Mix shortening and sugar in large bowl. Add eggs, yams, and water. Blend in flour, baking soda, salt, baking power, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into pans.

They do math like a girl . . . ?

Back in my youth (Way back!), it was kind of a given that boys were better at math than girls. Yes, there were girls in grade school that did pretty well but that always seemed to surprise the teacher. Kind of an urban legend that lingered on for awhile. Since this myth has long been refuted, how come the male majority in the House and Senate still 'do math like a girl'?

The joke among husbands has always been their wives' ways of spending when there wasn't the money to spend. Over the last three years, the President and his politicos in Congress and the Senate have been spending exactly like the joked about wife. Every time a 'cause' comes up that doesn't really need attention, they all vote to write a check on an empty bank account. They write checks on a make-believe treasury. They do math like that sterotype of a vapid female.

Of course, the answer to their overdrafts (once they even slightly recognize them as such!) is to impose taxes on the working people to help make up for their political shortcomings. They tax businesses which cuts jobs. Lost jobs mean more and more people on unemployment paychecks. Unemployment paychecks that are written on a massively overdrawn account. The answer? More taxes and so it goes on and on and not one of these politicians or the even the president seem to own a calculator or have the slightest knowledge of debit and credit.

Lots of prayer needed now with the obamacare prospect hanging in the balance. From what I understand, an increase in taxes to cover it will begin almost immediately although the whole warped program won't go into effect until something like 2014. Naturally, this surplus of money will make them look good for a short time until the politicians and their wannabe followers use the money for everything but the purpose intended and then have to tax us again.

Lots of reelections coming up next years. I hope the anger we feel now holds forth when better people compete for our vote in order to oust the politician currently playing havoc with our lives and livlihood.

Passing on Some Hopeful Numbers for 2012 . . .

New Evidence That Catholics Could Seal Obama’s Doom This November
April 20, 201
By Kevin "Coach" Collins

Since such records have been kept, no Democrat presidential candidate has ever lost the Catholic vote and won the general election. Republicans can win a general election despite losing the Catholic vote but a Democrat simply can’t. This makes Barack Obama’s war on Christians in general and Catholics in particular so dangerous for him and his Party.

The results of a new Pew survey of voters by religious affiliation holds devastating news for Obama’s chances of re-election. The ease with which it can be found proves this news is being purposely ignored by a delusional media that believes Obama is cruising toward an easy re-election.

Pew found Mitt Romney with a commanding lead among Evangelical and Catholic voters that has actually grown by 5 and 8 points respectively in just the past month. Obama now trails Mitt Romney 73/20 among Evangelicals and 57/37 among white Catholics.

The significance of Pew’s findings among white Catholics grows geometrically when added to that of Evangelicals because it means that Obama is also on track to lose by a very large margin among whites, who make up 2/3 of the electorate in November.

Over the history of polling by religious affiliation, the Catholic vote has served as a 90% accurate predictor of final results. Moreover, the winning Catholic percentage has consistently been very close to the winner’s victorious percentage in the general election – Obama’s 54% of the Catholic vote was the same as his overall winning margin in 2008.

Democrats like Hubert Humphrey in 1968 have even won the Catholic vote with landslide numbers (56/37) and still lost their race. Conversely, George McGovern was pummeled in 1972 when he lost Catholics by 20 points.

The fight is just getting underway.

The hard numbers point to an electoral disaster for Obama and his Party next November. To avoid this total wipe-out, Obama has to reverse himself and back down from his demands that the Catholic Church change her doctrine to suit him. Since that is not going to happen, the question becomes: how vigorously will the Catholic Church fight back?

If a new video titled Test of Fire: Election 2012 from a group called Catholics Called to Witness is an indicator of what is coming from Catholics who are determined to defeat Obama, his Election night will be a nightmare. This brief video contains a chilling reminder that the way a Catholic votes next November will be recorded for "eternity." This time, Catholics are playing for keeps and starting with a huge lead.

Lesson for the Day . . .

An old prospector shuffled into the town of El Indio, Texas leading a tired old mule. The old man headed straight for the only saloon in town, to clear his parched throat.
He walked up to the saloon and tied his old mule to the hitch rail.
As he stood there, brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.

The young gunslinger looked at the old man and laughed, saying, "Hey old man, can you dance?"

The old man looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No son, I don't dance... Never really wanted to"

A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "Well, you old fool, you're gonna dance now!" and started shooting at the old man's feet.

The old prospector, not wanting to get a toe blown off, started hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet.

Everybody standing around was laughing.
When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.

The old man turned to his pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled 12 gauge shotgun and cocked both hammers.

The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air. The crowd stopped laughing immediately.

The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly.

The silence was deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old timer and the large gaping holes of those twin 12 gauge barrels.

The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old man's hands, as he quietly said;

"Son, have you ever kissed a mule's behind?"

The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "No sir.... But... I've always wanted to"

There are a few lessons for all of us here:
* Don't be arrogant. * Don't waste ammunition. * Whiskey makes you think you're smarter than you are. * Always make sure you know who is in control...* And finally, Don't screw around with old folks; they didn't
Get old by being stupid...

I just love a story with a happy ending, don't you?

Friday Meatless Ravioli . . .

 Since my husband is treating me to a trip to the fabric warehouse, today, I figured I should go the extra mile with dinner last night. Ravioli is a budget meal when you make it yourself. The major expenditure, however, it your time . . . and the muscle you have to put into rolling out the dough! From the smells coming from the kitchen this morning, I know my son is eating leftover ravioli for breakfast. A compliment or a teenage thing? I keep thinking I should take an afternoon and make a lot of ravioli and freeze the extras for another meal when I'm in a hurry. Unfortunately, any extras I make seem to be eaten immediately.

Have to agree . . .

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines."
-- John Benfield

"Love thy neighbour as yourself, but choose your neighbourhood."
-- Louise Beal

"Technology is a way of organizing the universe so that man doesn't have to experience it."
-- Max Frisch

No One Will See Me Here!

 This ancient, orange tomcat has decided that he lives with us and takes advantage of every chance to get into the house. His favorite hiding place is under this chair where he seems to think we cannot see him. In this picture, he is keeping an eye on my husband in the kitchen while my daughter and I sneak up on him to get a picture and remove him from the house . . . again!

The Next Best Thing to being in the House . . .

 My husband is working on his garden for the summer months. He has piled up several heaps of dirt which Chick uses to lounge upon while she enjoys the sunshine. She is my husband's favorite dog (we only have one dog!) right now because she caught one of the pesky gophers destroying new plants. She appreciated the bone she got for a thank you treat but would have preferred keeping the gopher.

Recovering Cat . . .

 Our front-porch friend, Howl, disappeared for a few days and came back limping and not his old self. We are still trying to befriend him for purposes of adoption but he remains standoffish. I guess the fact that he limped back here says something about his attitude.  He took a nap on our front step and didn't bother to jump away when I showed up for the camera. Right now, he is lingering under a bush in the front yard enjoying the shade.

Added to my list of favorites . . .

"An atheist is a man who has no invisible means of support." -- John Buchan

Sacrificing my Housework for the better good . . . Ya think?

I read an interesting article today that said that housework could put off the effects of Alzheimer's. The reasoning behind this was pretty much that anything you keep doing will keep your mind and body active and functioning. Even if we become physically slow, standing to do dishes, running a dust cloth over furniture, etc., would all contribute to the well-being of your brain. It made good sense because keeping your mind active could very well keep your mind!

Now, I don't particularly like housework but do it because I like a clean house. I have my set chores for each day of the week to keep things within the realm of comfortable cleanliness. I thought to myself, "Well, I certainly don't have to worry about my mind given the work ethic is engrained in me after almost 30 years of marriage and four children." Upon further reflection, as I scrubbed out a bathtub, was how I could be seriously considered selfish because I was getting all the early 'medical' health just my doing my housework. My poor husband, who is five years my senior, was stuck at the office without the benefit of these mine-preserving activities. I didn't weep but probably should have at this point.

My darling husband was five years closer to adversely 'mellowing' out his brain while I spent each and every day in housework exercise. I am so selfish. The only solution is to save some of this brain exercise for him. Believe me, it won't be easy to give up scrubbing out shower stalls or sweeping floors but we are talking about my husband's mental health here.

Complacent with the thought of reducing my housework (with great sorrow, of course, but what is sacrifice, after all?), I realized that I wasn't talking in the whole picture on this subject. My eighteen year old still lives at home. How can I deprive him of help now for his future? Why would an eighteen year old need to worry about his mental capacity now? Training for the future! How can one incorporate an exercise program when the ol' brain is already slowing down? Yes, I need to provide my son with immediate help ! Sigh . . . That means I will have to turn over the other half of my chores to him and he will have to balance his studies with his mental exercise program.

Yes, yes, I realize that leaves me without any housework but that's what being a wife and mother is all about . . . thinking of others first. :-) Naturally, I haven't broached the subject with my son or husband yet otherwise this essay could be entirely different.

Basic Cake, Basic Frosting, Rave Reviews?

Yellow cake always seemed so dull to me when I was growing up. It has come to be my go-to cake as it lends itself to many versions. It is even a good recipe for pineapple upside down cake, crumb-topped, cupcakes, chocolate chip cake, etc. What I also like about it is that you are almost assured of having the needed ingredients on hand. You can bake it early in the day and it will be cool and ready for frosting by dinner time. Makes a good base for sliced strawberries and whipped cream, too!

Basic Yellow Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray or line with parchment paper a 9x13 baking pan or two 8-inch round ones if you want a layer cake.

In a large bowl mix flour and sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter, milk, extracts, and nutmeg. Either by hand or with a mixer, beat to combine and smooth out the batter. Add the eggs and beat until they are well incorporated.

Spread batter into prepared pan(s). Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched..

Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. If you went with the sheet cake, finish the cooling in the pan and frost. If you are going for a layer cake presentation, remove from pans and cool completely before frosting.

Basic Frosting
1 stick softened butter
½ cup shortening
4-5 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk to form spreadable frosting.

Beat the butter and shortening together until light and fluffy. Add about four cups of the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add milk in very small increments and continue beating until you have a fluffy and spreadable frosting. At this point, you can add food coloring if you want to be more festive.

Ideas . . .
I like to keep aside ½ cup of the finished frosting, add 2-3 tablespoons of toasted walnuts and use that for the filling. If you have walnut extract, you can add that, too. Frost the outside of the cake with the ‘plain’ frosting.

Keep aside 1/4 cup of the finished frosting. Divide into two small dishes and color each a different color. Once you finish frosting the cake with the basic frosting, you can take dabs of the colored frosting and swirl dabs of it all over the cake for a confetti look.

In total agreement with both quotes . . .

"So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work."
-- Peter Drucker

"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done."
-- Andy Rooney

Had to share this find . . .

It just occurred to me... With all the noise the media is making about Romney's wealth, I don't recall such bluster and hand-wringing over the Kennedy fortune. Or, for that matter, John Kerry. Or the fact that John Kerry gave virtually nothing to charity while Romney gave something on the order of $4 million... in addition to giving away his entire inheritance from his father. Oh. Wait. I just remembered. Romney is Republican. Kerry and the Kennedys are Democrats. Also, Romney worked for his money. Kennedy inherited his. And Kerry married it. Never mind. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. "If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're misinformed." Mark Twain

Another outspoken Bishop for God!

Bishop Daniel Jenky is certainly saying it like it should be said and isn't afraid to do so. He is offering Catholics and like-minded Christians a challenge or face a world that will be very much different than the one we know today. Bishop Dolan and several other bishops have been outspoken on the subject of the mandate . . . but where are our local bishops on this? A nod is quiet agreement isn't going to rally the flock for the battle ahead. Are they more afraid of the media than God? You have to wonder . . . Here is an excerpt from Bishop Jenky's recent sermon:

The faithful, he said, “can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead be Catholics by conviction.”

“The days in which we live now require heroic Catholicism, not casual Catholicism,” he continued. “In our own families, in our parishes, where we live and where we work – like that very first apostolic generation – we must be bold witnesses to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We must be a fearless army of Catholic men, ready to give everything we have for the Lord, who gave everything for our salvation.”

“As Christians we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but as Christians we must also stand up for what we believe and always be ready to fight for the Faith,” he added.
Bishop Jenky emphasized that for 2,000 years the Church has withstood the “terrible persecution” from the Roman Empire, to the age of revolution, to Nazism and Communism.

“And in the power of the resurrection, the Church will survive the hatred of Hollywood, the malice of the media, and the mendacious wickedness of the abortion industry,” he said.

“The Church will survive the entrenched corruption and sheer incompetence of our Illinois state government, and even the calculated disdain of the President of the United States, his appointed bureaucrats in HHS, and of the current majority of the federal Senate,” he added.

“May God have mercy on the souls of those politicians who pretend to be Catholic in church, but in their public lives, rather like Judas Iscariot, betray Jesus Christ by how they vote and how they willingly cooperate with intrinsic evil.”

Find the full text of the talk at The Catholic Post.

No mistakes, no life . . .

Anyone who doesn't make mistakes isn't trying hard enough.

- Wess Roberts

Trying a new pattern . . .

 I enjoy doing the railroad pattern for quilts using straight bars of fabric. When I saw this one, it appealed to my abstract nature and I immediately started going through my scraps and cutting out a multitude of pieces to start a quilt. I like that it is the same but different and the pattern lends itself to the colors. Good thing, however, that I'm being treated to a trip to the fabric warehouse soon as I'm am out of sufficient fabric to provide a back to my quilts. This trip, I am going to take a square from each of my unfinished quilts so I remember which ones need help and what colors I need to complete them. I tend to enjoy the planning stage more than the finishing stage so will be stern with myself . . . probably.

My Warning of the Day . . .

Both my daughters are trying to find work which, as you can imagine, isn't easy in this economy. I noticed some on-line job sites and decided to check them out in case they might list something along the lines of their work experience. On all three sites, before you could look at the listings, they had page after page of ads for furthering your education through the various 'colleges' they advertise on television. I faithfully hit the 'skip' button for each and every one. However, before I even got to looking at the list of jobs, the phone rang and it was one of those colleges wanting to help me further my education. I nicely said that I wasn't interested and had not expressed an interest and hung up. That day I must have gotten eight calls!

It has been about five days and I'm still getting two to six calls re. my educational goals. Just giving everyone a head's up to expect this regardless of whether you hit the 'skip' button or not! Did I find any jobs? Nope! And the listings didn't even match up with the experience information I had provided. Hey, I should get my daughters jobs disabling the 'skip' buttons for those companies. Obviously, it is an onging occupation!

Lizard Season!

 While we dread the heat of the forthcoming summer months, Chick loves them because it brings out the lizards she tries so hard to catch. She has been successful, upon occasion, but usually the lizards win. If Chick had sticky feet, I'm sure she would easily clamber up the brick walls, too.

Chick nicely posed for some picture updates but revealed her real feelings on the subject in the first picture. She tries so hard to be a good dog but enough is enough with the picture taking!

Checking out the Sunshine . . .

 We are promised triple-digit temperatures by Saturday. I decided to spend some time in the backyard while my son mowed the lawn to see what was new in the garden. The bees were very busy in  our orange blossoms which is a good thing for future fruit. Our lemon tree still has one foot (root?) in the last season as it sports a few lemons yet midst the new blossoms. Even our new orange tree is trying to keep up and has a multitude of blossoms and tiny little oranges hoping to make it to maturity.

Ready for Mass . . . Prayer Book, Rosary . . . hand cleaner?

As I've posted in the past, I like to follow the Rubrics set forth for participating in the celebration of the Mass. As many of you are aware, holding hands at the Our Father is an illicit gesture and not really a part of the Mass.  At our parish, it seems to be the moment everyone is waiting for, however. The Sign of Peace is just that, a sign and, as our pastor explained, your feet shouldn't travel during the Sign of Peace and it is sufficient to greet the person on either side of you. If you go further afield, you are greeting people and greeting belongs outside of Mass. Again, at our parish and probably many others, it is the signal for people to dash across the aisle and happily meet up with people they have just greeted on their way into church. Often, the priest has progressed to the Lamb of God and people are still calling out greetings and flashing peace signs.

My family and close friends try to observe the Rubrics and we just turn to each other, nod and smile, and say, "Peace." If people turn their back on the altar where Jesus is now present, we don't disrespect them but nod and go back to our prayer book. If our pew mates try to grab our hands during the Our Father, we just make sure to have our hands occupied with our prayerbook. That reminds me of a time when I still had a baby in arms and the people of either side were desperate to hold hands and they both made a strong grab for my hands totalling ignoring the fact that my baby would have hit the floor if I hadn't fought for my dignity and my baby's well being!

I did have to laugh this past Sunday. There is a very active group of 'greeters' and hand holders that usually occupy the front pews. They went through their lengthy ritual of playing 'twister' as they tried to made hand contact throughout the group. The Sign of Peace and they were all over the place, wandering hither and yon to make sure no hand was left untouched. During the Lamb of God, I suddenly noticed a medicinal smell. About ten of them were passing around a bottle of hand cleaner! Hey, you either trust in the Lord that your Sign of Peace will not pass on germs or you don't.

A pastor tried to guilt me once about my refusal to hold hands at the Our Father and said that if someone offers to hold your hand, you should be Christian and not turn them down. My husband said that if someone sees that you do not want to hold hands, they should be Christian and not force their personal rubrics upon you.

It is kind of sad that the beauty of the Mass tends to get lost in people making personal decisions about how they want to celebrate it and then demanding others follow their suit.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches in Anticipation of Summer . . .

After last week's cold and rain, the temperatures are going up into the 90's around here. Although I'm not particularly fond of the hot weather, it is a good excuse to make a cold dinner and get out of the kitchen sooner. A favorite around here are homemade chicken salad sandwiches. I usually keep hamburger buns in the freezer for just such an occasion but am not adverse to making my own . . . depending on how soon in the day I set the bread to rise and how hot it actually gets today.

Chicken Salad
3 cups diced, cooked chicken
2 cups very thinly sliced or diced celery
1 small shallot, finely diced or 2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
Dijon mustard to taste, usually a teaspoon or two
Salt & pepper to taste
Thousand Island dressing
Romaine lettuce, washed and patted dry
Sliced tomatoes
Sliced Provolone Cheese
Hamburger buns aod desired bread choice

In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the Romaine. The Thousand Island dressing should moisten not drench the chicken.

Toast the buns or bread lightly. Line each side of the bread with Romaine and add the tomato and cheese on one side. Spread with the chicken salad, close the sandwich, and serve.

As usual, this is open to creativity.
Try dill pickle relish instead of the sweet.
Add some crushed croutons or potato chips to the chicken salad.
Try you favorite cheese.
A dash of barbecue sauce isn't bad.
My son likes a few pickled jalepeno peppers.
Use a bottled Asian dressing instead of the Thousand Island.
Go with a Ranch dressing and add some crisp bacon.

Great Quote!

IOWAHAWK: Apparently, I’m supposed to be more outraged by what Mitt Romney does with his money than by what Barack Obama does with mine.

Great Thought to Begin the Day . . .

“So blind are we in this mortal life, and so unaware of what will happen, so uncertain of even how we will think tomorrow, that God could not take vengeance on a man more easily in this world than by granting his own foolish wishes.” ~St. Thomas More

Sunday Supper Casserole

Sunday should be a day of rest but fixing dinner often makes inroads into a peaceful afternoon. This dish is always a favorite for us and for me as it goes together quickly and tastes good, too. All you need is some garlic bread and a salad and dinner is on the table. You can use any kind of pasta but stick to the penne, elbow, or spiral type so the sauce can get into all the nooks and crannies! You can always have grated cheese on the table in case someone doesn't feel they have enough. We keep a dispenser of chili flakes around for our son who likes more heat to his food.

Sunday Supper Casserole
2-½ cups uncooked pasta
½ pound lean ground beef
½ pound ground pork
1 small onion, finely chopped
6 garlic clove, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
½ cup chicken broth
1 6-ounce can of tomato paste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon chili flakes
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon fennel seeds*
½ cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray a large oven-proof baking dish.

In a large frying pan, crumble and brown the ground beef and pork. Add the onion and garlic and continue cooking until they are softened. Add everything except the cheeses and bring to a simmer. Stir in the uncooked pasta and Romano or Parmesan cheese. Place the mixture in a large baking pan and spread out evenly. If it seems too dry, you can add a bit more chicken broth. Top with the mozzarella cheese and bake in preheated, 350-degree oven until cheese is melted and bubbling hot.

*The fennel seeds give it that sausage/Italian taste.

This is now my favorite quote of all time . . .

A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for any amount, up to and including their life.

Beginning the Day with a Grin . . .

"Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking."
-- Dave Barry

"Some people have so much respect for their superiors they have none left for themselves."
-- Peter McArthur

"Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting."
-- John Russell

"I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER."
-- Groucho Marx

The Way to Happiness . . .?

“Idleness begets a life of discontent. It develops self-love, which is the cause of all our miseries, and renders us unworthy to receive the favors of divine love.” ~St. Ignatius Loyola

Our Uninvited Guest remains so . . .

 The cat that decided to make us his home is still with us. He is an old fellow, very mellow, and just wants his head rubbed and his chin scratched. He doesn't scratch or bite but is pretty definite about his likes and dislikes. Although we do not really want him, it has been cold and feeling sorry for him, we have provided a box with some old towels for him to sleep in at night. The rain we had yesterday made the day especially chilly so I gave the cat an extra old towel. He was already in the box so I placed the towel gently over his back. He started purring, curled himself into the new warmth . . . and suddenly jumped out of the bed and glared at the new addition to his stinky, comfy bed. He took himself to the opposite side of the front porch and remained there the rest of the day.

Just before we went to bed, I told my daughter to take the new towel out of the bed so the cat could go back to his abode and keep warm. She folding the towel and left it at the side of the porch. On the way to bed, I glanced out and the cat was sleeping on the rejected towel! When I got up in the morning, he was still shivering and sitting on the rejected towel instead of his warm box bed. My daughter said to not feel to sorry for the old cat as she had also checked on him during the night and he was sleeping in the box. I guess he didn't want us to stop feeling sorry for his plight.

Last Week's Quilt Project with Some Progress . . .

 It was a busy week but I finally found some time to work on the quilt requested by my husband. As I posted earlier in the month, he wanted a pattern that didn't made his eyes spin looking at it. In the matter of color and pattern, we are certainly a couple of 'opposites attract' on that level. He is more sedate in his color choices and I am not. That's what he gets for marrying someone who used to love painting abstracts! I still need to cut out more squares in order to construct the bigger squares but need to buy some new blue fabrics to avoid too much of the same old ones in the overall quilt. Gosh, does that mean I have to go to the fabric store? I am such a martyr for my craft, aren't I?

Completing a Crocheting Project . . .

I finished the edging on my second afghan project this afternoon. I still have lots of loose color change threads to weave in but the major work is done. It is interesting how a minor switch in the way I used the two colors came up with two different looking afghans even though the basic pattern and stitches were the same. I should have been sewing but I was watching a movie on television while I ate lunch and finished my food 15 minutes before the movie ended. So as not to feel too guilty about sitting there to see it to the finale, I grabbed my crocheting and kept my fingers busy!