Single serving

Apparently the blog only allows four pictures posted on each upload so here's the last one that I tried to include. Yummy!

Bean Soup and Corn Bread

Using the supplies provided by J. in Houston, we made bean soup and corn bread for supper last night.

If you get a chance to buy any War Eagle Mill food packets, buy them. I found they are easy to make and very tasty.

I have never been to Rogers, AR, but have heard War Eagle Mill is a big place there to visit and buy stuff.

(I have not been compensated in any way for this mention of these products - except to enjoy eating them.)

Barbie VW

An after Christmas special? Reminds me of a Barbie jeep that arrived on Christmas in Texas about fourteen years ago. It was pink also.

Visiting doggies

These are our three canine guests. L. to R. Mork, Belle and Ingrid. Happy to see them but more happy to see the three human beings they brought with them. Christmas dinner later today . . .

Refrigerator Art

We have some art on our refrigerator. The younger grands on the west coast sent pictures with the package.
Nice to have some drawings from them!

Plaid

The bunk beds are ready for cold nights with plaid quilts. Oh wait. I forgot. We don't turn the heat down at night. The covers will probably be kicked off about an hour into the sleep cycle.

And yes, it took 48 hours but the phone is delivering emails this morning!

Technical Lesson

This is our friendly neighborhood Sprint store. Four trips there yesterday and even with their help, I still have no email on my Blackberry. It's not my phone, it's not my fault etc. but if I had not tried to change my password, this would not have happened.
I have always been told it is a good idea to change your passwords frequently. I have trouble remembering all of them so I have not followed that advice. The first time I try it causes failure of email to arrive on my phone.
The explanation that the trouble is between Yahoo and Sprint doesn't convince me. I should learn to leave well enough alone.

Birds on a Wire

Monday afternoon we saw these birds resting. Without a wider lense, I could only get a fraction of them in the photo. They were on this particular wire for blocks in both directions.

For any persons thinking about shooting the birds, please aim at the target instead.

The Tree

We got the tree decorated today. The star is a little crooked but we like it.

The Overland

I bought this cup several years ago in a variety store. The reason I noticed it was because my dad had told me that when he was young, he owned an Overland. I don't remember if he told me any details about it. - and he probably did not. I did not get my talkative nature from him! In 1920 my dad would have been twenty-two years old. I would bet that he bought it new, not used!
Click to enlarge the fine print.

Quiet Sunday

Not much going on today....a trip to the store seeking frozen turkey breast and a ham. No turkey breasts to be found but we bought a ham.

Later trip to another super market (related to the first store - they rather dominate this town) and L. found only two frozen turkey breasts left. So he bought them.

We have Valances

Let's see. By the calendar on the wall I see we have been here a little over three years. We now have some valances in our bedroom. I don't mind bare venetian blinds (which is still the state of the office) but we broke down and got some J.C. Penney curtains on sale. I even ironed them. . .

Great Gift

I can't wait to make some bean soup and corn bread. Thanks, J!

Banana Muffins

Delicious recipe that I messed up - no wheat flour, but it only called for 1/4 cup so I substituted all white. Not a good idea. Fold in dry ingredients, it said. I used a slow mixer speed. Another not so good idea. The texture was not quite right. Instructions said fill cups almost full. Another wrong move. In the second pan, less dough was used and they looked better and the overflow did not stick to the nonstick pan.

But they really taste good!

Goat Milk Soap

This soap is made locally and is really a treat to use. B. introduced me to it and it does make your skin feel smoother (and that is hard to do with all these wrinkles.)

Click to enlarge.

The Mall 1:45 p.m. Tuesday

We actually went to the mall today to save some money on curtains at J. C. Penney's. If people are shopping in our town, they must be somewhere else. A few people were in the temporary toy stores but our mall looks like it is on its last legs.
Last week in Dillard's at the other end of the long "hall" there was a crowd. The weather was warmer then but today it's sunny and not much wind. It's hard to believe that most folks have shopped early and are done.

Salvia

I've been told this is Salvia. Is this what has been mentioned in the news alongside the word bong?
Who knew that we have it in the backyard?

Friendly Barista

When L. was buying my mocha the other day, the nice clerk thanked him for his tip in the plastic box. I guess others do not realize the container is there for deposit, not withdrawal.

I have lived long enough to see coffee go from a nickel a cup to one hundred times that amount. Of course, at that time my salary was fifty cents an hour and now the minimum wage has not gone to 100 times that!

And the cardboard cups today are much larger than in 1949.

Carved Bird

This neat carving is just south of our library. Perhaps the tree died and some talented soul was able to make this eagle. Sculpting, carving and other forms of art are not something I can do but I admire the works of those who can.
My trip to the library was to take a class from Patsy on blogging. It was fun and very informative. Learned lots of stuff I didn't know and that's always "a good thing."

Waiting for a haircut

Lots of products for hair. I just use shampoo.

Half staff

This photo is a day late for Pearl Harbor day, but L. did put the flag out. I actually remember hearing on the radio that we had been attacked. The reaction of my folks made me think that this was really very serious.

I do not remember what time of day it was. Perhaps it was in the afternoon. I know that on Sunday evening we always listened to "One Man's Family" on the radio. Lux Radio Theater was on Monday and Fibber McGee and Molly, Bob Hope, and Red Skelton were on Tuesday night. In bed by 8:30, I could stay awake and hear them till 10:00. I remember telling someone that tv would never catch on because you had to sit and watch it and couldn't do anything else like you could when listening to the radio - ironing, sewing, cooking, doing dishes and other hobbies.

So much for my view of the future.

Old Bank

This bank belonged to my dad. He was born in 1898. I'm not sure when he received it but I would imagine after 1900. A coin is placed on the end of the gun and is shot into the bear's belly either by using the lever under the indian's leg or by pulling down the chin of the bear. The bank is in pretty good shape; however the feathers are wired on. It's amazing to me that they are still there. The paint looks good - however it looks like it should have been dusted before this picture was taken in 2004.

X marks the spot

A lot of years ago I used to listen to the radio at night. The program from Pahrump, Nevada, was hosted by an individual who was very interested in extra-terrestrial things.
One night he described in a very serious tone that there was an X above his house. His studio was in his home. He seemed to feel that "someone" had located him and marked the spot.

They're doing it now over Kansas. . .however, this one was not near our house. Whew!

Bread Pudding - Microwave

My friend, LP, said she made bread pudding the other day. That reminded me that I had a recipe to make it in the microwave. So with my 1978 Litton cookbook out, I got the ingredients and made half a batch. I will be the only one eating it. It turned out quite nicely.

Old Fashioned Bread Pudding

2 cups milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup raisins
1 tbsp. butter or margarine

Combine milk, eggs,sugar, cinnamon and salt in 1 1/2-quart glass casserole; beat with rotary beater.
Stir in bread crumbs and raisins. Dot with butter.

Microwave for 26 to 30 minutes on SIMMER, or until almost set in center. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. 4 to 6 servings.

Our newer microwave (somewhat newer than the 1978 model) does not have SIMMER so I used 50 % power.