Limitation creates stunning results

I am trying to have my kids over for dinner more often and I love to try new recipes so when I saw this recipe for Herb Roasted Chicken

I decided it would be just right. Since there are five of us I decided to fix two chickens and consequently there was not enough room in the oven to cook the dressing too so I simply removed the chickens and covered them with foil and let them sit while the dressing cooked.....Wow! this was the juiciest chicken I have ever eaten and found out later that it is often recommended to let your meat sit a spell before cutting....never too old to learn, that is my motto!

I will say that there is so much oil used in the recipe that you will need to use chicken broth with just a little of the drippings to make your gravy, but it is is mmmmm good.

At Random

I don't know about you...but I would be lost without Google....just type it in and puff! helped me fix my computer, provided a bunch of patterns, checked the latest movies, helped me figure out a knitting stitch, checked out the side effects of medications, grab a recipe and much, much, more. So how about you...do you have a favorite search engine?

Couldn't resist this one.........................................




Go Obama go?

The latest idea of how to not spread the swine flu?

You best not count us out!

Just for fun

I saw the "Where's George" post on It's a small town life and checked out the web site......

Well, it looked like fun to me, so I am putting a dollar into circulation and can't wait to see where it will go...........

Bandana

A bandana (from the Hindi: बन्धन bandhana, "to tie") is a type of large, usually colorful, kerchief, usually worn on the head.

Bandannas are frequently printed in a paisley pattern.
Bandannas are worn as a practical garment by:
Outdoor workers such as farmers and cowboys, who wear them around the neck to wipe the sweat off their faces and keep dust out of their collars.
Wildland firefighters, who wear them over the mouth and nose to lessen inhalation of dust and fumes.
Dancers and other athletes, who wear them during practice as a simple way of keeping hair and sweat out of their faces.
Some soldiers wear bandannas to keep their own sweat and blood out of their eyes.
Sports Stars, such a footballers and Tennis players, wear them to keep their hair in shape and off the rest of their face.
And sadly Bandannas in particular colors are also worn as a means of communication or identification, as with the prominent California criminal gangs, the Bloods, the Crips, the Norteños, and the Sureños or in sexual subcultures in the United States. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, the Bloods and the Crips, wore red or blue paisley bandanas as a signifier of gang affiliation.

And here are a few more uses for a traveling female by Tara Wilkinson

A dish cloth........................A Headband.........................A picnic napkin

A first-aid tourniquet.............Tie a ponytail......................A Hankie

Carry your lunch....................A pillow cover

To stay cool....just wet and tie around your neck

Clean your camera lens..............................Use as a placemat

Shine your shoes.................Tie extra stuff to your knapsack

Polish your fruit..............Wear as a funky bracelet

Collect shells on the beach or berries in the woods

Use as a belt........A bandage.............A washcloth.................A sling

A "sleep" blindfold...........................Shoooo aways bugs

Wrap a gift..........................Fill with Ice and use as a compress

Mark a trail...................Cheer at a concert or sporting event

and my added one....tie around your suitcase to set it apart at the airport

and here you thought they were just for protecting your head

Have Bandana ..will travel

Abandoned

I often go to Savers (second hand store) to purchase things for my charity packages and if you might remember I bought the little quilt and then couldn't give it away..................


Look what I found this time

This is a crib size cross stitched blanket and only God knows how many hours it took to make.

Here is a close up of just one of the larger hearts
I guess if you have never hand made something you wouldn't have any idea of the hours and hours that goes into it but I just can't imagine anyone discarding this treasure. It does have a Happy ending

A one nighter

Hubby and I took another little jaunt last week-end right smack in the middle of downtown Phoenix. It is amazing what you can find it you just look for it. The San Carlos Hotel was built in the early 1900's as noted by the cars in this picture

and is still in business today.

Before checking in we had a nice lunch and a made a trip to the Phoenix Police Museum which was a short distance from the hotel.......and...... took a ride on the Phoenix light rail. This happened to be around 4:00 p.m. and it was amazing to see how many people were utilizing this new mode of travel that eliminates the problem of limited parking down town.

Every floor of the hotel had wonderful old pictures like this and memorabilia from the early days of the hotel. We made dinner reservations at the Italian Restaurant that was on the premises and although we were pretty much the only people there ........... It was absolutely delicious! We sat at a table that looked out to the street and watched as three or four people gathered to offer rides in those bicycle carts. There was a Irish Pub next door that had a fun loving group kicking up their heels and although we were sitting in a very quiet space enjoying a bottle of wine, it felt like we were a part of it all.

The next morning we walked a couple of blocks to a "First Watch" restaurant and had a great little breakfast. The thing that was so amazing is how quiet it was. I guess few people live down town and only go there on the week days for business or work. I noted the rooftop of the hotel as we walked back because they were to have a swimming pool on the roof. As it turned out what I saw was the penthouse that was being remodeled and the pool was actually on the roof of the Irish Pub next door but what a pretty sight!

I almost wished I would have brought my too tight swim suit!

The most amazing thing happened as we stood in front of the hotel waiting for our car to be brought around.....

From somewhere.....The Westminster chimes played and chimed the hour.......

It's the little things that stick with you, don't you know.......... Love our little jaunts.

Words

Words

Exasperate.........To make frustrated or angry.

Deteriorate.....To worsen; to depreciate.

Legislate....To make laws.

Intimidate....to discourage or suppress

Disgrace.....The state of having lost grace, favor, respect or honor.

Dismantle....Tear down.

Illogical....Not observing the principals of logic.

Control............govern, regulate, rule, command, dominate, direct, manage, check, repress, curb, mastery, direction, restraint, superintend.

Devastate........to destroy; to ruin; to overwhelm, to overpower.

Approval of Congress has dipped below 20% for only the fourth time in Gallup history

I have discovered that knowing words and experiencing words are two very different things.

The Rolling Memorial

Where there is a will.....there is a way
Thank you, John Holmgren

I received this info from my son-in-law via email. I couldn't get the pictures any larger so it doesn't do it justice but you can go to the web site. John Homgren a trucker was inspired by Darryl Worley's song, "Have you forgotten" and has created this rolling memorial of 9/11.

Eerie Similarities

We have had two Presidents that were assassinated while in office

Abraham Lincoln

John F. Kennedy

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F, Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

The names of Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both were shot in the head.

Lincoln's secretary was Named Kennedy.
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners.

Both successors were named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names comprise fifteen letters.

Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were both assassinated before their trials.

Location, location, location

Indeed, location makes a difference. Last year the Colt convention was held in Houston and the hotel was not very good and was located in a poor area of the city right after the hurricane. They did not even try to add more help with all the added people to serve so needless to say....there was no service and only one little restaurant and bar......this year....................JACKPOT!!

The convention was held in Concord, N.C. at the Embassy suites and it was not only beautiful Glass elevator to the rooms that circled the atrium

or the winding stairs if you preferred but very accommodating with a complimentary breakfast, held behind the stairs and not just donuts but a full breakfast but also a nightly complementary two drinks popcorn/nuts managers reception. It needs to be repeated.....there is nothing like southern hospitality. The service was impeccable and they even made it possible to order a box lunch from the convention area and have it delivered so you didn't have to leave your table.....but the best part of all? The rooms...two bedroom suite with the best bed and pillows you could ask for. What a concept huh? So many times we can't wait to get back home to our own bed/pillow because the hotels are so uncomfortable. Well, needless to say, I shall consider staying at Embassy Suites again in the future.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Colt Conventions, they are held once a year the first week-end of Oct. at a different location in the USA each year. Only colt and colt products are displayed and sold at this show and there are some very unusual, high dollar items to be found here. There are many gun shows around the country but this is one I try not to miss because you see.....there is also a focus for the women. Every year they ask that you bring an item for the baskets they raffle and with the proceeds they pay for a woman's breakfast. They also build a special woman's gun and raffle it each year and the proceeds for that goes to youth organizations that help children to learn proper gun handling and etc. There are also special tours available that you pay to go on and I have to say that I have never been disappointed even when I thought I might...like this year. The tour I was able to go on was a wine tour and I have already been to many different wineries so figured it would be a little disappointing.....wrong! This was not just any old winery, it was the most beautiful place I have ever been. I truly believe it would be the same as what you would see in Italy. Even the behind the scenes had pieces of art and statues that just took your breath. Here are a few pictures snapped in the women's bathroom!

Can you see me?

The Richard Childress Vineyard (that name ought to ring a bell to NASCAR fans) encompasses 30 acres and it was harvest time. Pictures just don't do it justice but I tried....

The entrance and notice the hanging lamps on each side?

Up close and don't you love the flagstone?

Notice how they had decorated for fall

A spot in the atrium

After the behind the scenes tour we had a scrumptious lunch on this deck overlooking the vineyards

and then it was wine tasting time:) I didn't find anything I couldn't live without here but did find a few treasures in the gift shop like this pretty little serving dish and another cookbook!!!!! Oh, this one is different, everything is cooked with beer:)

Well, it was a great trip and we did good at the show this year, didn't need an extra suitcase to bring home the money but didn't have to hock one either.

Next year the convention is going to be held in Tulsa, Okla. and they have asked me to speak on my book at the women's breakfast; I consider that an honor.

Cabin Fever

If you have followed my blog you know that hubby and I have traveled a lot in the past but, like many of you, economic changes have roosted at our house too; so much so that I am even excited to be off on a business trip!
North Carolina here we come.......................

For more info you can go Here

Bet you didn't know

An Albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.


Here are a few more facts:
Albatrosses spend the better part of their lives on the wing, gliding and circling the wind systems of the Southern Ocean.


There is thought to be a total of 750,000 breeding pairs of the 13 species of these massive birds.
Adult Albatrosses share incubation, brooding and feeding of the single chick.

Adults have been recorded flying up to 550 miles per day at speeds of 50 mph, and in a single foraging flight they can cover an incredible 1800 to 9300 miles, a distance greater than the diameter of the earth.

Albatross mortality is high in the first year, but those which survive often surpass 50 years, making them one of the most well-travelled animals in the world.

In today's world, their main threat is being snared in gill-nets and caught on longline hooks.

In folklore the Albatross carried the soul of dead mariners. Should a sailor kill the bird, bad luck would fall upon him for the rest of his natural life. This belief was not universally held, as Albatross feet were once used as tobacco pouches.

Maybe you thought an albatross was simply this?
The word albatross is sometimes used to mean an encumbrance, or a wearisome burden.[1] It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798).

Who do you suppose created these?

I guarantee you it wasn't a woman!

Why Arizona doesn't have daylight savings time

Got this from a friend and just had to share it...............

A little history if you please

The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775
You have had 234 years to get it right......................It is broke
and we have this wonderful stamp for Christmas to look forward to
Check it out here
Not on my mail, thank you.

Social Security was established in 1935
You have had 74 years to get it right.......It is broke.

Fanny Mae was established in 1938
You have had 71 years to get it right.......It is broke and just to set the record straight go here.

The War on Poverty started in 1964
You have had 45 years to get it right and $1 Trillion dollars spent each year........It hasn't worked.

Medicare was established in 1965

You have had 44 years to get it right.....they're broke.

Trillions of dollars went to the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) a fraction has been spent and has not seemed to make much of a difference and the economy is improving in spite of it.


and last but not least...................................................




The cash for Clunkers program was established in 2009 and went broke in 2009!
Now that is a record you can be proud of.

Listen folks............maybe no one there is keeping check on backgrounds but we the "American People" are and

your track record stinks!

I've decided

In my next life....I want to be a bear.

If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. you do nothing but sleep for six. months. I could deal with that.


Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

If you're a bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake up to partially grown, cute cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat. Yup.....Gonna be a bear.

Never too old to learn

While growing up I was always taught to cover your mouth when you coughed or sneezed but recently I found out I have been doing it wrong!!


According to the CDC you should use a tissue and if that isn't available you should sneeze into your sleeve and not your hands. This makes perfect sense and with this flu situation I hope to
re-learn fast.

Insight

This statement from Chatty Crone sums up any questions you may have and needs to be repeated.

Why do we need to get healthy?????

We're going to get a health care plan shoved down our throats that is written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, signed by a President that also hasn't read it, and who smokes, with funding administered by a Treasury Chief who didn't pay his taxes, overseen by a Surgeon General who is obese and financed by a Country that's nearly broke.


For a little added information as of Aug 21, 2009 there were 32 appointed Czars that are making an average $120,000.00 and answering to whomever and it didn't include the newly appointed Tobacco Czar who hopefully starts his campaign/watchdoging at the White House.
Now don't misunderstand me.....As long as smoking is legal there should be NO ONE forcing you to quit and that includes President Obama.

I am a very happy ex-smoker but it was by MY choice...not the Government's.

Optimism

While at my dentist for my 6 month checkup he shared the following story:

My parents live in Minnesota and have all their lives and so for their upcoming 70th wedding anniversary my siblings and I decided to rent the local town hall and have a party and celebrate. We asked my Dad to compose an invitation list and was shocked to find 800 people on his list! We chucked the lite dinner, cake and ice cream idea to only cake and ice cream and indeed there were over 680 people that attended.
Now my parents are in their mid 90's but my Dad had such a good time he put down a deposit for the town hall for their 75th wedding anniversary.

If that isn't optimism I don't know what is..................

The doll room

Here are a few more of my favorite things found in the doll room...... Some beautiful brides

A very old pair of bookends that were my Mom's

A collection of mini dolls

Here is one close up.................
These are little porcelain dolls

A set of china dishes that were mine as a girl

The doll house I made during the O.J. Simpson trial. There is a little story that goes with this. I bought it already put together with the idea of just doing the decorating part but after I got it home I realized that it had been put together with a hot glue gun and there was glue everywhere! I called a store that specialized in doll room things and they told me to just take a hair dryer and I could melt the glue and take it all apart...sure enough so basicly I did start from scratch and yes I did the shingle roof and the electric inside for the lights.

It sits on this stool and revolves so you can see inside................................

There are dolls in unexpected places

and dolls with top billing

Old dolls that were mine as a girl

Dolls that were gifts

and pretty much dolls everywhere!

The quilt

I recently bought this baby quilt at my favorite secondhand store for $3.00
with the intention of making booties and hat and etc. and giving them to my Charity but after I got home and looked at it more closely..............

I fell in love with it and wanted to keep it. It is truly amazing to me because it has so many little tiny pieces that have been lovingly sewn in

Focus on the bright yellow piece and that was not the smallest as noted by the little tiny pink piece next to the green with hearts piece. I do not quilt and have no idea what this pattern is but this is what I DO know......this represents hours and hours of labor. This is the side binding which incorporates the back piece by folding it to the front

Well since I decided to keep it I also had to find a special place for it............................

Success!! This is my doll room and the walls are painted a light lavender which I have not been too sure I liked until the quilt.....it just make the whole thing pop and come together.

Now you may ask me why in the world I have a doll room and so here is the answer. This room was suppose to be an office when we built the house but it became a bedroom for a surprise grandson instead and I squeezed the office in another location which we ended up liking so after grandson left didn't know what to do with this room and sure didn't need two guest rooms! So came the doll room which has many favorite things of mine like the picture you see above the quilt....here is a closer look.......

This is my daughter and my Grand-daughter taken almost 11 years ago now. Maybe I will show you a few more of my favorite things in my doll room another day. It is a place I come and sit to be quiet and it also has a treadmill that stays pretty quiet too:)

On one of my favorite blogs Wyoming Breezes , Nancy showed how she had put labels on the back of all her quilts and oh how I wish this would have had one...I would love to know the who, when and where but to whoever made it I say...thank you and welcome home my lovely little quilt of many colors.

Pain in the neck

No, I am not talking politics.....I really have pain in my neck/shoulder

Most of you know that I knit/crochet for charity and recently I picked up the crochet hook instead of the knitting needles and.......Yikes, my shoulder is killing me! I bought a paraffin wax machine to ease the pain in my hands

which really works by the waybut the shoulder doesn't fit.

All of this is just a way to introduce you to the re-birth of my blog RamblingRae which will focus on this passion. Stop in if knitting/crocheting and charity are a interest to you.

PS....I have to say I am getting a little discouraged with the Strings blog......... My vision of having many authors all donating to it is not coming to fruition.........Won't you think about joining in??

Stop laughing

A friend of mine sent me this video and I have to tell you........it woke up the lion in me. There are some parts that I am not sure of the accuracy (Obama's birth certificate) and I know that he has been labeled a right wing nut by some but please listen all the way through and you will indeed have to stop and think twice....

Alan Keys

When he said "we better stop laughing", it hit a nerve with me! and I just have to say.......

Conservatives best stop laughing with the attitude that Obama and those democrats are being proven wrong and Democrats better stop and think if they really want to go along with having our United States of America torn apart, weakened and eventually destroyed.

Many people are beginning to stand up in different ways......There are several states that have already declared State Sovereignty from the government and I am proud to say that Arizona is one of them. I am also pleased to see how many people are going to these town hall meetings and speaking up and I encourage them to do more. I too am going to begin to stand up more by applying many of the suggestions found in the article below:

Topic: Political Correctness Ten Ways Conservatives Can Fight Back
by Nancy Morgan(libertarian)Friday, February 6, 2009

Are you fed up with political correctness?

Tired of the way our language is being redefined?

Angry at stupid proposals, never ending crisis' and corrupt politicians?

Offended by the patronizing elites?

If so, its time to start fighting back.
Don't underestimate the power of example. By employing these ten easy steps, one person can make a difference:

1. Support capitalism - (no-one else is). Say it often and loudly:
Profit is not a dirty word.
Crony capitalism is bad. Free market capitalism is good.

2. Banish the word 'stimulus' from your vocabulary. The correct word is government spending.

3. Stop tolerating lies and liars. A lie is a lie, not a misstatement. Lies are bad and liars are not trustworthy. Even if they're media darlings.

4. Do not rely on the government for ANYTHING. Remember what Reagan said: "Government is the problem, not the solution." Spread the word.

5. Never, ever again lower your voice when you mention race, blacks, Negroes or whatever the Politically Correct word for African-Americans is. 5a: Stop using hyphens when referring to Americans.

6. Cancel your subscriptions to all liberal media and stop watching NBC, CBS, ABC, etc. They have lost all credibility and don't deserve your support.

7. Start being judgmental. Its called 'having an opinion'.

8. Quit stifling your opinion when surrounded by lock-step liberals. Your opinion is just as valid as anyone's, despite what the elites may think. The PC idiots can only censor you if you let them. You never agreed to or voted for the current politically correct rules and you are not obliged to follow them.

9. Ignore the 'experts'. Remember, just because everyone says something is so, doesn't make it so. By not challenging 'expert opinion', you enable it. Keep in mind that most of our current 'experts' are educated way beyond their intelligence. 9a. Employ the 'experts' test: Just ask yourself, who benefits? Chances are good its not you. If that doesn't work, just follow the money.

10. Most importantly, say 5 times a day: 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me'. Stifling dissent by labeling the dissenter a racist, homophobe, meanspirited, etc. is one of the left's most effective tactics. If anyone tries to discredit you by using these labels, immediately recognize that they're group-think, useful idiots whose opinions are formed by others. Act accordingly.

If you follow these ten steps, others will follow. Before you know it, you'll soon be able to say God Bless America without fear of censure or embarrassment. You'll be able, once again, to take pride in merit, success, true achievement, God and country instead of being forced to worship at the alter of political correctness, diversity, multiculturalism and equality of outcome.

Now I know that there are some Christian views out there that we are in the end times and etc. but whatever happen to "Not on my watch"?

Picker upper

Over and over again, it seems people are not being held responsible for their actions and when I am feeling really down and out I just remember............................................................




justice does happen

and continues for a very long time

According to news articles, Nicole's children are now in college and have no relationship with their father.

Fear not...those who do wrong will answer one day...........................................

Did you know

In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-40®—which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today.

A few years following WD-40's first industrial use, Rocket Chemical Company founder Norm Larsen experimented with putting WD-40 into aerosol cans, reasoning that consumers might find a use for the product at home as some of the employees had. The product made its first appearance on store shelves in San Diego in 1958. In 1960 the company nearly doubled in size, growing to seven people, who sold an average of 45 cases per day from the trunk of their cars to hardware and sporting goods stores in the San Diego area.

There are a multitude of uses for this product and here is a list of a few:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from your car.

3. Give floors that "just-waxed" sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps flies off cows.

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Untangles jewelry chains.

9. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

10. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

11. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

12. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

13. Removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor.

14. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

15. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.

16. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

17. Keeps bathroom mirrors from fogging.

18. Removes all traces of duct tape.

19. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

20. Relieves arthritis pain when sprayed on arms, hands and knees.

21. Since the basic ingredient is FISH OIL sprayed on live fishing bait or lures attracts fish.

22. Removes the sting of fire ant bites.

23. Removes crayon from walls.

and fixes jammed zippers.

Want more?? Go here.