I'm amazed at the people who are blaming the banks for their financial distress these days. When it comes down to it, many of them refinanced to pay for trips, house projects, education . . . Now, they are complaining about the interest rates they should have noted when they signed the papers and are objecting to the larger than normal mortgage they are carrying. I hear some of them bragging at how they got the bank to reduce their principal balance and I have to wonder at their thinking. Did they or did they not benefit from the money they borrowed against their home? Isn't it stealing, in a way, to demand various reductions because you bit off more than you can chew? I guess I'm of an ultra-conservative nature when it comes to finances. I grew up poor and learned early that you can't always have everything.
I'm also amazed at the line up of credit cards I see displayed at the check out counters! A priest told me once that if you use the card and know you can't pay it back in a timely manner, you are essentially stealing and definitely living beyond your means. Yes, we have had to carry a balance on occasion when we've had an emergency but once it got beyond our ability to pay it off the next month, the card was not used.
Everyone seems to want it all NOW these days and put off facing up to the costs until later. It kind of illustrates why out country is in such a mess today. The government uses our tax money in the same way.
In these difficult times, it seems to me that our number one priority would be to drastically reduce our debts. Being Catholic and conservative and home schooling, you can bet that if push comes to shove, we could be harrassed in some way by government offices. Keeping our debts within bounds, we stand a better chance of keeping our homes and lives in order if jobs are lost, reduced, and even harder times hit.
Just watching the news makes you feel vulnerable to the powers that be in our government who are governing us as THEY see fit not the way we want to live. Got to stay one step away from the bad guys, that's for sure.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Reality . . .
A real-life conversation with my son! Even half asleep, they exhibit a sense of humor!
Marc: I'm TIRED! I didn't sleep well.
Mom: Why not? Weren't you warm enough last night?
Marc: I was warm enough. It was this annoying voice that kept saying,
"Marc! Marc! It's time to get up for Mass!"
Marc: I'm TIRED! I didn't sleep well.
Mom: Why not? Weren't you warm enough last night?
Marc: I was warm enough. It was this annoying voice that kept saying,
"Marc! Marc! It's time to get up for Mass!"
When it hits home . . .!
The Sin
Two elderly, excited Southern women were sitting together in the front pew of church listening to a fiery preacher.
When this preacher condemned the sin of stealing, these two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, "AMEN, BROTHER!"When the preacher condemned the sin of lust, they yelled again, "PREACH IT, REVEREND!"
And when the preacher condemned the sin of lying, they jumped to their feet and screamed, "RIGHT ON, BROTHER! TELL IT LIKE IT IS... AMEN!"
But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two got very quiet. One turned to the other and said, "He's quit preaching and now he's meddlin'."
Two elderly, excited Southern women were sitting together in the front pew of church listening to a fiery preacher.
When this preacher condemned the sin of stealing, these two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, "AMEN, BROTHER!"When the preacher condemned the sin of lust, they yelled again, "PREACH IT, REVEREND!"
And when the preacher condemned the sin of lying, they jumped to their feet and screamed, "RIGHT ON, BROTHER! TELL IT LIKE IT IS... AMEN!"
But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two got very quiet. One turned to the other and said, "He's quit preaching and now he's meddlin'."
A smile for today!
I loved this joke reading list and had to share!
CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT
1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
3. Dad's New Wife Robert
4. Fun Four-letter Words to Know and Share
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers, and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High Voltage Fence
9. All Cats Go To Hell
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly
12. That's It! I'm Putting You Up For Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking, and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, but You Never Will
21. Pop! Goes the Hamster ... and Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man on the Moon is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
28. Daddy Drinks Because You Cry
29. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Book of Wild Animals
of North Amer -- Hey, Let's Go Ride Our Bikes!
30. The Care Bears Maul Some Campers
CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT
1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
3. Dad's New Wife Robert
4. Fun Four-letter Words to Know and Share
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers, and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High Voltage Fence
9. All Cats Go To Hell
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly
12. That's It! I'm Putting You Up For Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking, and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, but You Never Will
21. Pop! Goes the Hamster ... and Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man on the Moon is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
28. Daddy Drinks Because You Cry
29. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Book of Wild Animals
of North Amer -- Hey, Let's Go Ride Our Bikes!
30. The Care Bears Maul Some Campers
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Apple Season!
The fires in California are finally under control. Our favorite place to buy apples in the Fall, Oak Glen, was completely saved from the fires. At one point, it didn't look good but with God's blessing, lots of prayers, and terrific firemen, not a tree or home was lost.
We went up the day after they lifted the evacuation ban to see how some friends fared. They weren't back yet but just seeing their grove and house still standing was wonderful. We made a trip on Labor Day and they were back and selling their wonderful apples. We purchased a lot as evidenced by the apple pies in the refrigerator. For some reason, the family didn't mind me turning on the oven for that!
All the apple eating must be inspiring me as I finished five tote bags today and started in on a quilted vest with printed fabric of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
I did find something besides apples on our recent visit to Oak Glen. We stopped to get some cash, I looked up, and there was a wall of the most beautiful quilting fabric in a corner of the gift shop! Not only that but the owner of the store was a quilter, too, so we could both talk with some 'authority'. Since I had just been to my favorite fabric warehouse a couple of weeks ago, I didn't give into temptation and left Oak Glen with only apples!
We went up the day after they lifted the evacuation ban to see how some friends fared. They weren't back yet but just seeing their grove and house still standing was wonderful. We made a trip on Labor Day and they were back and selling their wonderful apples. We purchased a lot as evidenced by the apple pies in the refrigerator. For some reason, the family didn't mind me turning on the oven for that!
All the apple eating must be inspiring me as I finished five tote bags today and started in on a quilted vest with printed fabric of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
I did find something besides apples on our recent visit to Oak Glen. We stopped to get some cash, I looked up, and there was a wall of the most beautiful quilting fabric in a corner of the gift shop! Not only that but the owner of the store was a quilter, too, so we could both talk with some 'authority'. Since I had just been to my favorite fabric warehouse a couple of weeks ago, I didn't give into temptation and left Oak Glen with only apples!
Cooler weather, thoughts of baking . . .
Although we are no where near cold temperatures yet, we are learning to feel blessed when the mercury goes below 100 degrees! I prefer colder weather because it I can show off my vocation as a housewife more fully - I can bake, stew, simmer, and enjoy the way the food smells and how it helps to warm the house!
With thoughts of frost on the ground (hey, it can happen in California!), I have been going through my stacks of old magazines searching for new recipes. This one seemed like a good find and I plan to try it soon.
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
2 sticks of butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon orange extract (if you have it)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 large eggs
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a large tube pan 20 by 4-inch.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Lower speed on mixer and gradually add flour and baking powder. Beat in extracts, zest. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Once the eggs are all incorporated, beat for an additional five minutes.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Test for doneness after one hour. Cool cake in pan on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes. Turn the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
You can drizzle the cake with an icing composed of 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to form an icing.
With thoughts of frost on the ground (hey, it can happen in California!), I have been going through my stacks of old magazines searching for new recipes. This one seemed like a good find and I plan to try it soon.
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
2 sticks of butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon orange extract (if you have it)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 large eggs
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a large tube pan 20 by 4-inch.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Lower speed on mixer and gradually add flour and baking powder. Beat in extracts, zest. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Once the eggs are all incorporated, beat for an additional five minutes.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Test for doneness after one hour. Cool cake in pan on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes. Turn the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
You can drizzle the cake with an icing composed of 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to form an icing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)