Okay, I just made some homemade sausage in my new sausage grinder. My Granny gave it to me. Right now it's boiling because I don't know another way to cure raw meat. Okay, I just checked the sausage and I overfilled one of them and the casing has burst. It smelled like a Vienna beef hot dog but it didn't taste like one.
I bought some cheap cuts of beef and pork and ground them in the grinder. Then I mixed it all together with spices and tried to re-grind it but that didn't work well so I disassembled the tube on the grinder and pushed it through into the casing by hand--literally. My hands have been covered in raw seasoned meat for about an hour. I used bleach to wash them and bleached all of the utensils before putting them into the dishwasher. Also I added tofu. I wanted an all soy sausage but I didn't know how to process that for the correct texture.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to make sausage better, leave a comment.
Oh and Jamie Foxx was particularly delightful singing with Rascal Flatts on the 41st Annual Country Music Awards Wednesday. He looked really good too. I guess country music is in his blood seeing how he's from Texas and all--I reckon.
Pay attention: The Earth is Changing and we are the last generation positioned to do anything about it. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Paying the Bills
Well, I have to pay the bills. That is why I have chosen to sign up on several to pay-to-blog companies. I'm happy about my decision. I hope those who read my blog agree. I have found out about some really neat stuff that I would probably had never learned about if it were not for my pay-to-blog opportunities. Also, if any of you want to get in on the action, feel free to click on the review my post links that I post in the paid blog posts.
In the meanwhile, I'm learning to write ad copy--which is very exciting to me. I have always wanted to make commercials.
Also, don't forget to click on the lulu.com link to your right and buy my new books. Or maybe you can donate. Click on the paypal donate link and I will continue to delight you with my take on life.
In the meanwhile, I'm learning to write ad copy--which is very exciting to me. I have always wanted to make commercials.
Also, don't forget to click on the lulu.com link to your right and buy my new books. Or maybe you can donate. Click on the paypal donate link and I will continue to delight you with my take on life.
The Women's Suffrage Movement will not be forgotten...
I want to re-introduce this subject to you because I think our society is forgetting all what women have been through to even have what is allowed us now.
...(Our) society severely challenged women's efforts to enter public
life. Through the 1890s, "scientific" reports were being
released which showed that too much education could seriously
hurt the female reproductive system. In 1905 former president
Grover Cleveland wrote in the Ladies' Home Journal that female
voting would upset "a natural equilibrium so nicely adjusted to
the attributes and limitations of both [men and women] that it
cannot be disturbed without social confusion and peril." In
retaliation, women set out to show that rather than disrupt the
social order, woman suffrage would instead maintain it.
Bringing their "natural" roles as mothers and nurturers into
the public arena, women would be able to impose a kind of
"civic housekeeping" upon the competitive and corrupt (male)
state.
Go read the rest of this document.
...(Our) society severely challenged women's efforts to enter public
life. Through the 1890s, "scientific" reports were being
released which showed that too much education could seriously
hurt the female reproductive system. In 1905 former president
Grover Cleveland wrote in the Ladies' Home Journal that female
voting would upset "a natural equilibrium so nicely adjusted to
the attributes and limitations of both [men and women] that it
cannot be disturbed without social confusion and peril." In
retaliation, women set out to show that rather than disrupt the
social order, woman suffrage would instead maintain it.
Bringing their "natural" roles as mothers and nurturers into
the public arena, women would be able to impose a kind of
"civic housekeeping" upon the competitive and corrupt (male)
state.
Go read the rest of this document.
Children and Gardening
You want to know what happened when I tried to include my
family in my gardening project? Nothing, that is what happened.
They would not have anything to do with it. It was Mommy's
stupid thing to do alone. Of course, the few cherry tomatoes we
had from it were fought over but essentially, it was Mommy's
stupid thing and it's that way because it doesn't look good.
The garden looks abandoned.
Last summer, however, it was different.
People were stopping their cars to take a look. A watermelon
was stolen. I felt good about myself. I didn't feel guilty,
like now.
Following in the footsteps of my parents, I planted fruits and
veggies. I failed to realize how much space vining fruits and
veggies like Pumpkin and Watermelon, would take up. I had such
a small plot of land. It really didn't qualify as plot or land
because it was just a bare patch in the grass where it was too
shady to grow. I turned it into a garden.
The garden was a spectacle-that's why people were stopping and
staring.
The vines of a Pumpkin are very thick. The leaves are
huge-bigger than you hand. Neighbors would stop to chat to see
if they could get me to give them some of my sweet winter
collard greens. They figured I, an African-American female,
would grow something like that. (You know we all know how to
cook soul food and yes, these were other Black folk I was
talking to) They would advise me that the space was too small
for something like Pumpkin or Watermelon and we would stand and
stare at the garden in silence.
Looks of worry and disappointment would criss-cross their face
as we stood in the hot sun discussing the properties of
Pumpkin.
"They use it in spa treatments. I saw it once at a spa in the
North Loop," I would say.
Only a minute or so would go by before I set them straight.
They walked away knowing that they weren't getting any pumpkin
pie out of me.
It is sad that I, a decedent of Sharecroppers, would have such
a blue thumb.
That is why I thought if Mother can do it then so can I-but I
can't-not well anyway.
My 9-year-old boy helped me pick tomatoes for a salad once or
twice. Once he went out there alone to do it.
My autistic daughter,16, would have no part of the mini
harvests.
Maybe next year.
family in my gardening project? Nothing, that is what happened.
They would not have anything to do with it. It was Mommy's
stupid thing to do alone. Of course, the few cherry tomatoes we
had from it were fought over but essentially, it was Mommy's
stupid thing and it's that way because it doesn't look good.
The garden looks abandoned.
Last summer, however, it was different.
People were stopping their cars to take a look. A watermelon
was stolen. I felt good about myself. I didn't feel guilty,
like now.
Following in the footsteps of my parents, I planted fruits and
veggies. I failed to realize how much space vining fruits and
veggies like Pumpkin and Watermelon, would take up. I had such
a small plot of land. It really didn't qualify as plot or land
because it was just a bare patch in the grass where it was too
shady to grow. I turned it into a garden.
The garden was a spectacle-that's why people were stopping and
staring.
The vines of a Pumpkin are very thick. The leaves are
huge-bigger than you hand. Neighbors would stop to chat to see
if they could get me to give them some of my sweet winter
collard greens. They figured I, an African-American female,
would grow something like that. (You know we all know how to
cook soul food and yes, these were other Black folk I was
talking to) They would advise me that the space was too small
for something like Pumpkin or Watermelon and we would stand and
stare at the garden in silence.
Looks of worry and disappointment would criss-cross their face
as we stood in the hot sun discussing the properties of
Pumpkin.
"They use it in spa treatments. I saw it once at a spa in the
North Loop," I would say.
Only a minute or so would go by before I set them straight.
They walked away knowing that they weren't getting any pumpkin
pie out of me.
It is sad that I, a decedent of Sharecroppers, would have such
a blue thumb.
That is why I thought if Mother can do it then so can I-but I
can't-not well anyway.
My 9-year-old boy helped me pick tomatoes for a salad once or
twice. Once he went out there alone to do it.
My autistic daughter,16, would have no part of the mini
harvests.
Maybe next year.
Ultimate Paintball
THIS IS A PAYPERPOST SPONSORED AD
I have always wanted to try paintball and I know a couple of
people who play regularly. The only thing standing in my way
was lack of gear. I stumbled across a website called Ultimate
Paintball. On the site, they had
paintball guns for sale
and even a paintball gun package where everything you would need, would be included.
Everything on the site is easy to find. However, they had one
particular
paint ball gun for sale that seemed easy to use and was in my
budget. I've seen what paint ball can do to clothes, coats etc.
so I want to be prepared!
The Ultimate Paintball site had all of the top-of-the line
names like Tippmann, Spyder, Smart Parts, Dye, Empire and
Draxxus.
So stop using the wrong equipment and getting paint on things
you may want to wear later. Go to Ultimate Paintball.
Homemade Sausage anyone?
Okay, I just made some homemade sausage in my new sausage
grinder. My Granny gave it to me. Right now it's boiling
because I don't know another way to cure raw meat. Okay, I just
checked the sausage and I overfilled one of them and the casing
has burst. It smelled like a Vienna beef hot dog but it didn't
taste like one.
I bought some cheap cuts of beef and pork and ground them in
the grinder. Then I mixed it all together with spices and tried
to re-grind it but that didn't work well so I disassembled the
tube on the grinder and pushed it through into the casing by
hand--literally. My hands have been covered in raw seasoned
meat for about an hour. I used bleach to wash them and bleached
all of the utensils before putting them into the dishwasher.
Also I added tofu. I wanted an all soy sausage but I didn't
know how to process that for the correct texture.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to make sausage better,
leave a comment.
Oh and Jamie Foxx
was particularly delightful singing with Rascal Flatts on the
41st Annual Country Music Awards Wednesday. He looked really
good too. I guess country music is in his blood seeing how he's
from Texas and all--I reckon.
grinder. My Granny gave it to me. Right now it's boiling
because I don't know another way to cure raw meat. Okay, I just
checked the sausage and I overfilled one of them and the casing
has burst. It smelled like a Vienna beef hot dog but it didn't
taste like one.
I bought some cheap cuts of beef and pork and ground them in
the grinder. Then I mixed it all together with spices and tried
to re-grind it but that didn't work well so I disassembled the
tube on the grinder and pushed it through into the casing by
hand--literally. My hands have been covered in raw seasoned
meat for about an hour. I used bleach to wash them and bleached
all of the utensils before putting them into the dishwasher.
Also I added tofu. I wanted an all soy sausage but I didn't
know how to process that for the correct texture.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to make sausage better,
leave a comment.
Oh and Jamie Foxx
was particularly delightful singing with Rascal Flatts on the
41st Annual Country Music Awards Wednesday. He looked really
good too. I guess country music is in his blood seeing how he's
from Texas and all--I reckon.
I write for Helium and You can too!
Some parents luck out and find that they have a genius for a
child. Some parents who may not have an honor roll student
still manage to instill the value of learning and making the
most of each school day-these children are blessed. However
there are those who are just there languishing. Either they
have parents who never liked school themselves and unwittingly
(or wittingly) passed the distaste for classrooms on to the
child or the child is possibly in the wrong type of school.
Public schools are for every citizen K-12. Then there are
magnet schools where the pupil has to apply and possibly have a
specific strength like fine arts or math and science.
Charter schools are public schools as well but are looked upon
by many in the education community as less restrictive and more
supportive of students who find learning difficult in a
structured environment-like a neighborhood public school. There
is no tuition required of a true charter school. Fees should be
no more than what any public school needs for uniforms and book
rental. Charter schools get public funding from the respective
local school district.
Another type of school is the college preparatory curriculum
that may be found in day schools-where students go home in the
evening-or boarding schools. These type of schools usually
require a tuition. Financial may be available. Some of these
type of schools are same-sex campus and then some are co-ed.
Many of them are for high school students but there are some
across the country that are open to pupils as young as second
grade or possibly kindergarten.
Military schools are for the student who either wants to be in
the military in the future, attend a military college, need the
rigors of a military school or who come from a family who
attended military academies. They too require a tuition
usually.
Parochial schools are available in a variety of faiths, the
most popular being Catholic and Jesuit. Normally, there is a
tuition requirement.
There is a school for every pupil's need if you are willing to
make sacrifices and conduct a little research.
child. Some parents who may not have an honor roll student
still manage to instill the value of learning and making the
most of each school day-these children are blessed. However
there are those who are just there languishing. Either they
have parents who never liked school themselves and unwittingly
(or wittingly) passed the distaste for classrooms on to the
child or the child is possibly in the wrong type of school.
Public schools are for every citizen K-12. Then there are
magnet schools where the pupil has to apply and possibly have a
specific strength like fine arts or math and science.
Charter schools are public schools as well but are looked upon
by many in the education community as less restrictive and more
supportive of students who find learning difficult in a
structured environment-like a neighborhood public school. There
is no tuition required of a true charter school. Fees should be
no more than what any public school needs for uniforms and book
rental. Charter schools get public funding from the respective
local school district.
Another type of school is the college preparatory curriculum
that may be found in day schools-where students go home in the
evening-or boarding schools. These type of schools usually
require a tuition. Financial may be available. Some of these
type of schools are same-sex campus and then some are co-ed.
Many of them are for high school students but there are some
across the country that are open to pupils as young as second
grade or possibly kindergarten.
Military schools are for the student who either wants to be in
the military in the future, attend a military college, need the
rigors of a military school or who come from a family who
attended military academies. They too require a tuition
usually.
Parochial schools are available in a variety of faiths, the
most popular being Catholic and Jesuit. Normally, there is a
tuition requirement.
There is a school for every pupil's need if you are willing to
make sacrifices and conduct a little research.
Who is the Good Shepard?
John 10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a
sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a
thief and a robber!2 But the one who enters through the gate is
the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for
him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 After he has
gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow
him because they know his voice.5 They won't follow a
stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his
voice." 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration
didn't understand what he meant,7 so he explained it to them:
"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.8 All who
came before me* were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep
did not listen to them.9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in
through me will be saved.* They will come and go freely and
will find good pastures.10 The thief's purpose is to
steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich
and satisfying life.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his
life for the sheep.12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf
coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to
him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them
and scatters the flock.13 The hired hand runs away because he's
working only for the money and doesn't really care about the
sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they
know me,15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So
I sacrifice my life for the sheep.16 I have other sheep, too,
that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They
will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one
shepherd. 17 "The Father loves me because I sacrifice
my life so I may take it back again.18 No one can take my life
from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority
to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For
this is what my Father has commanded."
19 When he said these things, the people* were again divided
in their opinions about him.20 Some said, "He's demon possessed
and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?"21 Others
said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can
a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of
Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication.23 He was in the Temple,
walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonnade.24 The
people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to
keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't
believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name.26
But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep.27 My
sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28 I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can
snatch them away from me,29 for my Father has given them to me,
and he is more powerful than anyone else.* No one can snatch
them from the Father's hand.30 The Father and I are one."
31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him.32
Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good
works. For which one are you going to stone me?"
33 They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work,
but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God."
34 Jesus replied, "It is written in your own Scriptures* that
God said to certain leaders of the people, `I say, you are
gods!'*35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered.
So if those people who received God's message were called
`gods,'36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, `I am the
Son of God'? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me
into the world.37 Don't believe me unless I carry out my
Father's work.38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence
of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe
me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me,
and I am in the Father."
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and
left them.40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place
where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.41 And
many followed him. "John didn't perform miraculous signs," they
remarked to one another, "but everything he said about this man
has come true."42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a
sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a
thief and a robber!2 But the one who enters through the gate is
the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for
him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 After he has
gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow
him because they know his voice.5 They won't follow a
stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his
voice." 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration
didn't understand what he meant,7 so he explained it to them:
"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.8 All who
came before me* were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep
did not listen to them.9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in
through me will be saved.* They will come and go freely and
will find good pastures.10 The thief's purpose is to
steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich
and satisfying life.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his
life for the sheep.12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf
coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to
him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them
and scatters the flock.13 The hired hand runs away because he's
working only for the money and doesn't really care about the
sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they
know me,15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So
I sacrifice my life for the sheep.16 I have other sheep, too,
that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They
will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one
shepherd. 17 "The Father loves me because I sacrifice
my life so I may take it back again.18 No one can take my life
from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority
to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For
this is what my Father has commanded."
19 When he said these things, the people* were again divided
in their opinions about him.20 Some said, "He's demon possessed
and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?"21 Others
said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can
a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of
Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication.23 He was in the Temple,
walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonnade.24 The
people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to
keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't
believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name.26
But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep.27 My
sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28 I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can
snatch them away from me,29 for my Father has given them to me,
and he is more powerful than anyone else.* No one can snatch
them from the Father's hand.30 The Father and I are one."
31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him.32
Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good
works. For which one are you going to stone me?"
33 They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work,
but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God."
34 Jesus replied, "It is written in your own Scriptures* that
God said to certain leaders of the people, `I say, you are
gods!'*35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered.
So if those people who received God's message were called
`gods,'36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, `I am the
Son of God'? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me
into the world.37 Don't believe me unless I carry out my
Father's work.38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence
of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe
me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me,
and I am in the Father."
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and
left them.40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place
where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.41 And
many followed him. "John didn't perform miraculous signs," they
remarked to one another, "but everything he said about this man
has come true."42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Every one's Parents are getting older
My parents are getting older. Every one's parent's are getting older but I worry about things like Alzheimer's Disease. How will I know what to look for as they grow older?
I ran across this site called Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
I found out that the disease is not a natural part of aging and that it's more that just forgetfulness.
Memory loss--especially of recent events--forgetting where they put things and forgetting new information are signs of the disease. Confusion and struggling to complete familiar actions, such as making coffee, what to do to get ready for bed, i.e. brushing teeth are also signs. Also, having trouble finding appropriate words, completing sentences, and following directions are also signs. A big indicator also is poor judgment when making decisions. This along with
changes in mood and personality can actually cause arguments--further pushing parents and potential caregivers apart. Increased suspicion, rapid and persistent mood swings, withdrawal, and disinterest in usual activities and not being able to perform difficult tasks like balancing a checkbook, are also huge indicators.
I remember there was a time where my mother kept asking me if I took little odd things from the house or if I took $5 from her purse. During that time I was living in another city. She stopped asking me so I just thought she was being silly. However, mom often becomes quarrelsome. I thought maybe she was cranky from being diabetic. She said she had not had breakfast when I asked her if she ate. It was 1 p.m. and she was too focused on shopping to care. I have had to learn to ask mom questions in non-threatening ways in order to get a response and not an argument.
While I don't know how I will talk to my parents about this (they told me to mind my own business when I tried to help them with signing up for Medicare)I will however, support this cause.
I plan to shop for mom's holiday gift at the site's eStore. Dad too. Maybe this will open up the subject.
All of the proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, so it's a win-win situation and it will help me out of a tight spot.
Seeking a cure to Alzheimer's is important and making sure those who suffer from the disease get quality care is just as important. I think the holidays are a good time to give a gift donation or buy a gift from the eStore.
I'm going to do this because it's easy to mistreat someone who is suffering from this disease. They my exhibit the crankiness--which leads to arguments but it's scary to watch the people who raised you to brush your teeth every night go without toothpaste because they kept forgetting it at the store and then decide it isn't important. The only thing is that both of my parents are still living and what one forgets, the other one will remember--for sure. Because of this, it will probably be harder for me to figure out what is going on.
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