Don't forget to double click on pictures to enlarge

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Years Eve

New Years Eve is a time when the young people are looking forward to staying up all night and celebrating


and the old people are just hoping to make it to midnight
but both wake up to a New Year
and so, young or old--------------I wish you a
2009

Monday, December 29, 2008

Cold heart

I am one of those people who attend Church regular and give to different charities but there is still a struggle to keep check on toting around a cold heart. Seeing a homeless man on our way to Starbucks this morning was one such incident.

It is cold for here and I could only see the person from a distance...My first thoughts were why was this person sitting there with a sign, this is a nice area, not downtown!
We went inside and had our usual morning specialties, one being hot oatmeal with nuts and fruit and as I looked at that cup of hot oatmeal a thought popped into my mind......"we need to buy that person some hot oatmeal" well of course I tried to cast it aside but to no avail so I finally mentioned it to my hubby. Well, I am really blessed because I have one of those hubbies who is always ready to give so just before leaving he went up and bought the oatmeal to go as well as a very large cup of hot coffee.

You may think that we did something really special for this young man with only a sweatshirt to keep him warm, but in truth....he did something really special for me.....He helped put a crack in an old cold heart and all for just a Starbucks oatmeal...........................

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Home Made success

I love to make things for people but many times they aren't what is popular or wanted or needed but his year I hit the jackpot!
Of course I had good subjects to work with:)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

On my Dec. 4th post I promised to post pictures of my surprise Christmas gift:

Day view


Night view

May the spirit of Christmas be in you heart all year long

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The gift that keeps on giving

Go to http://www.worldvisiongifts.org/ to find out more about these gifts that keep on giving. It is an amazing program, only wished I would have done it as a family or group and been able to give more.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas Tree tidbit

The Druids in ancient England & Gual and the Romans in Europe both used evergreen branches to decorate their homes and public buildings to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Over the years, these traditions were adopted by Christians, who incorporated them as part of their Christmas holiday celebration.
Trees used specifically to celebrate Christmas are mentioned in the early 1600's in Germany and surrounding countries. The families would set up these trees in a prominent location of their home and decorate them with colored paper, small toys, food, and sometimes candles. As these people moved or immigrated to other countries, they brought this tradition with them.
Through the years many different things were used to decorate Christmas trees. As the world moved into the 1900's, many trees were decorated with strings of popcorn, homemade cards and pictures, cotton to look like snow, candy in all shapes and sizes, and occasionally, fancy store made glass balls and hand blown glass figurines. Candles were sometimes used, but often caused devastating fires, and many different types of candle holders were devised to try to prevent tree fires. Electric tree lights were first used just 3 years after Thomas Edison has his first mass public demonstration of electric lights back in 1879. The early Christmas tree lights were handmade and quite expensive.
Today, Christmas tree ornaments can be found in nearly every size, color, and shape imaginable, and they are used to decorate the millions of Christmas trees used throughout the world.
A few pictures of some Christmas trees around the world:

found in front of a small chapel in Germany


In Italy
The Czech Republic





Our State Capital
O Christmas Tree
(composed by a German author)
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me.
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit,
gay and bright,
There's only splendor
for the sight.
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee! !"

Monday, December 15, 2008

Puerto Penasco Sonora Mexico

Hubby and I have been to many places in Mexico but, only to the ones you can commercially fly into. This time we ventured to the closest one to us "Rocky Point" only 215 miles away. We have always avoided having to drive our car into Mexico but decided to brave it with special Mexican insurance, of course.

First let me say that Rocky Point in NOT Mazatlan but for a little small town it was pretty nice. We chose to stay in town rather than in the northern condo area and the hotel "Penasco Del Sol" had recently been renovated. We found it to be very nice and comfortable. The surprising thing to us was that it was off season and when they say off season....they mean it. We felt pretty much alone, (with the exception of the last night when they put a group of young people right above us and they raised he-- all night long including going down to the beach and setting off firecrackers and smoke bombs). But in the restaurants and etc. we were mostly alone and did indeed get some good service! It was a bit sad to see it so empty and the people hurting for business, one place that we stopped in all but begged us to stay for dinner.

Like most Mexican towns they have a Malecon and this picture exemplifies the most popular thing here.................shrimp!

When they say off season in Rocky Point it means it is too cold to play in the water and indeed it was about the same temp. as in Phoenix which is sweater weather. It does not however, deter the people from going shrimping and we took full advantage........bringing home about 70 lbs.
At $7.00 per pound you can't really go wrong and of course we shared some with our kids and friends:)

We chose to go by Taxi to our nightly restaurant ventures and both were good. The first one "The Friendly Dolphin" had the most interesting menagerie of things. From the outside it was all lit up like a Christmas tree and there were three stories...here is a shot of the bar on the top story where we ate.



The second one (The Lighthouse) which is on the highest point of the city and overlooks the bay, was truly EXCELLENT!! Beautiful view, wonderful food and great entertainment and....very reasonable. I had a steak with all the trimmings and it was $18.00 American with an exchange rate of 13 peso's to the dollar.

It was nice to have our car and to be able to venture around the little town but we found out real quick that you best follow their rules perfectly! The roads are not real well marked and there are many that are one way. You can't tell that until you see all the cars parked in the same direction and so by accident we went down one dirt road the wrong way. Much later we were chased down by a bicycle cop that said they had a picture of us in the middle of this infraction (sure...they have camera's but no street lights or signs) and we would have to go to court...but of course there was another person there that could speak English and translate and told us "This is just about money" which means you give the cop $20.00 and you can go on your way. We had two of these little experiences and yes both times we had done something wrong. The last one, the cop kept hinting how much he liked my husbands hat and I told him he wasn't getting the hat...with a smile of course so he settled for the $20.00. For the most part the people are very nice and treated us just fine so guess this just goes with the territory and when you are in their town you play by their rules. Most people that go frequently rent a condo out on the north side and don't drive around the town.

Rocky point is located at the inside tip of the Sea of Cortez so you don't get much waves and the beaches are really long....so much so that they use special trucks on stilts to help you launch your boat but it is still a pretty view................

Now the big question is....will we go back? We really enjoyed the restaurants and etc. but there was not a lot to do during the day. No tours, no museums and etc. I might would like to see if there is a boat that could take you over to San Felipe for a little day excursion and I would consider coming with our kids and renting a condo.
It was a nice little Christmas present and we seem to always manage to have a good time just being together............................
Oh..........on a side note we stopped at a little casino a few miles out of a town called "Why" on our way back and hubby won $25.00....I told him we gave it to the Mexicans and took from the Indians....we aren't prejudice.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Christmas present

Hubby and I stopped exchanging Christmas gifts several years ago in lieu of taking a little jaunt so we are off to enjoy......................................MEXICO



....and the best part???
You don't have to wrap it:)

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Giving



It only takes a moment to send some cheer and you can do it as often as you would like.


Saturday, December 6, 2008

Tidbits



The hummingbird


The swift


The Kingfisher


The Grebe
And
The Loon...............................................................are all birds that cannot walk.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

My surprise Christmas present



Yesterday, my daughter and I spent a few hours Christmas shopping together (a real treat in itself) and one of the places we went was my favorite store (Savers) as mention before. As we walked up...there in the front window was this amazing nativity scene...all made of metal and it was Joesph, Mary and baby Jesus in the manger....it had light rope all around each figure and Joesph stood over 4 feet high. I told my daughter I was sure it wasn't for sale (as I drooled) and was only a display for Christmas. My daughter marched right in and asked if it was for sale and it was!!!!!!!!!!!! It came home with me and it all lights and everything. I have wanted one for a couple of years now and they are so expensive and most of them not that attractive so who would have ever guessed that I would get one that I love for all of $39.99.
Now that, is a Christmas present! I will post a picture when it is up and lighted.............................

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Just the two of us

Summer or Winter
Ham with Potatoes & Asparagus
2 sheets 12x18 inch foil
2 medium potato, sliced 1/4" thick
1 Ham steak
12 asparagus spears (snap off tough ends)
1/2 container Alfredo sauce
Preheat oven to 450 or outside grill to med. high
Spray dull side of foil with Pam
Center half of the potatoes on the foil, top with half the asparagus and ham.
Top all with the half the Alfredo sauce.
Bring up sides leaving room for circulation inside.
Bake for 20 to 22 min. on a cookie sheet or grill for 13 to 14 min.
Serves two
You just can't believe how good this is!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Casino

Out here in the west, casino's are pretty commonplace due to the large amount of Indian territory that can be used to build one on. There are many pros's and con's about them and when you go to one you will be surprised at how many Indian's you see working and gambling.
Even if you are not a gambler it is interesting to go and see how elaborate some of them are built, like the Cliff Castle in Camp Verde (about an hour from our home). It sits high on a hill with a beautiful view of the valley and like many has several restaurants. One of those in this facility is named the "Storyteller" and it is a sight to behold............
The picture does not do it justice but the whole restaurant is made to look just like being down in the Grand Canyon.......all the red rock is highlighted with up lights and each booth is set back in the rocks. Well, it is one of those things you have to see to appreciate:) We had been here one time before and had a dinner that was excellent but am afraid that our trip up Fri. only provided the beautiful view.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is when his side and her side get together and smile at each other:)


and we do our best to share....................


Happy Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Can you relate?


Overload!
Harnessed and going nowhere?
Left hanging?
Your take?????????????????????????????????

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Let's just talk

So many times I post about things of interest and etc. but today I want to talk about my feelings...........mainly inspiration.



One action that ripples to far reaching banks
I get so discouraged with the daily bombardment of bad news that I search for the little good news tidbits that might be available. I am not talking about the faith preaching/miracle type of things, but rather the everyday kindness type of things.
The blog 25 Things for Charity is the type of thing that stirs up my heart. People, who without fanfare, simply do something to make a difference. I have been involved in things like this and it is easy to get discouraged and begin to think it really doesn't make a difference...you don't hear about the mother who's premature baby that died was tenderly wrapped in the blanket you made or the old woman in the rest home that now has her feet covered with slippers because you busied your hands while watching TV. You begin to feel it is each for yourself and don't realize that maybe the kindness you showed someone made the difference between them making the decision to live or die.
I don't believe it is because we don't care....but rather, it's because we forget to.
Men.....there are so many single/widowed women out there who don't know when to change the oil in the car, how their insurance works and etc. Children who's only example of adults was those that hurt them, belittled them and left them to fend for themselves, screen doors that are falling off the hinges that you could fix in a blink of an eye.
I would love to find a blog that would be like "25 things for charity" with a multitude of contributors that each share some act of kindness they have done. It could be anything from letting the person behind you in the check out isle go ahead because they only had one item compared to your 45, to going to your local shelter to adopt a pet, to volunteering at a local school to help a child learn to read, to taking over a hot bowl of soup to a friend that is under the weather, to faithfully putting our bird seed in the middle of winter, to not blowing your horn at the person that cut in front of you..............................................
It seems to me it would encourage us all to do better, be better, stop and take notice and pass it on.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Thanksgiving Traditions

Every family and generation has their set of traditions and after each marriage they get combined/changed and etc.

Here is ours currently:

An afternoon meal of Turkey, Bread Dressing, Mashed Potato's, Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, Home Made Cranberries, Fresh baked rolls, Pie...but no pumpkin

Some that have come and gone......Evening meal, sliced baked apples, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and crushed peanut brittle, and clams in the dressing




How about yours???




Click on the turkey for some fun trivia...see what you know

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Bet you didn't know

In 1926, when a Los Angeles restaurant owner with the all-American name of Bob Cobb was looking for a way to use up leftovers, he threw together some avocado, celery, tomato, chives, watercress, hard-boiled eggs, chicken, bacon and Roquefort cheese, and named it after himself:
Cobb salad.............................................. and 82 years later you call still order it at your favorite restaurant.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Last weekend, hubby and I were in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What a treat to see all the beautiful fall colors and enjoy the crisp autumn air.
The two things that brought us here was to visit the Gilcrease Museum and participating in the world's largest gun show.

These were some views from our hotel room window

I was determined to get to the Gilcrease Museum to view the special viewing of the 101 collection. I was not prepared for it to be focused on those that became stars from being part of the Wild West show like Tom Mix etc. but I was thrilled to see two wonderful pictures of my lady Bessie, one of which I had never seen. For those of you who may not realize I wrote the book "Buckskin Bessie Her Lost Letters" and it was her discovered and purchased letters and a two year research that made it all possible so of course any new information, picture and etc. is cause for excitement. I was also pleasantly surprised that they quoted information from one of the letters published in the book BUT they did not credit the book with the quote. I spoke to them about it and after arriving home received a phone call and they have agreed to cite it. Wished I was near there so I could check it out but will just have to take their word for it. I was shocked to see this because when I wrote the book it was CRITICAL to site my sources.

I think the most outstanding thing of the display was the painting of Joe Miller...it is just awesome and they also have a wonderful display of Princess Wenona's things, including her engraved rifle.

Now for the gun show...It is the largest in the world......this is just a few pictures that doesn't begin to give you any real view of the thing.............




There were 4,000 tables and each one is 6 ft. long. Let me tell you it is so big you can't even walk the whole thing....two levels worth. We sat there for two days (me knitting) and sold nothing until we began packing up and low and behold we sold four guns....whew!
Blogger, Grannie Annie and I were all set to meet there but at the last minute she had to cancel...we were both disappointed but who knows....there may be another time.
Now for the gun show....I don't claim to be the world's biggest gun fan.... but I did enjoy the animal pelts that were for sale and especially the White Artic Fox...the softest thing I have ever touched...the diamond ring that was for sale that was shaped like an arrowhead and the purses that were handmade using pelts and cloth and the elephant tusks and dinosaur eggs were pretty interesting too. I also nearly finished the stocking cap I am knitting for charity and enjoyed being wined and dined so not a bad way to spend the weekend.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Reflection

Sometimes the world seems like it's
Upside-down
Inside out
Torn down the middle
In need of arrangement
Desperate for guidance
Wanting direction
Lacking leadership
Losing patience
Turning and flipping
Backwards and sideways
Speeding endlessly forward
On a path of self-destruction

And the only thing to stop it,
The only thing to calm it,
Is the lives of the men that
Fight passionately
Fall readily and
Die willingly.
Poem "Sometimes the World Seems"
by Larissa Myschuk
Let us not forget...... we are because they were

Monday, November 3, 2008

Laugh with those that laugh and cry with those that cry

I post this the night before the elections with a note that no matter who leads our country we are going to have a rough four years ahead. Let us encourage and comfort one another to be the best we can be and be grateful we live in a country where we are free to cast our vote.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

This and that



In case you didn't know you can have your bumper sticker customized like the exampe above and here is one that was seen in Texas............................................................

"I'll keep my freedom, my guns, and my money, and you can keep 'THE CHANGE'

and how about this little story I found on oldhorsesnake
Sarah Palin is invited to meet with the Pope while he is vacationing south of Rome in Venice, and the Pope asks her to join him on a Gondolar ride through the canals.
They are admiring the sights and agreeing on moral issues when a gust of wind blows the Pope's zucchetto hat off his head and into the water.
The gondolier starts to reach for the Pontiff's cap with his pole, but this move threatens to overturn the floating craft.Sarah waves off the tour guide saying, "Wait, wait, I'll take care of this. Not to worry."
She steps off the gondola onto the surface of the water and walks over to the Pope's cap, bends over and picks it up. She walks back across the water to the gondola, steps aboard and -- amid stunned by the silence -- hands it back to the Pope.............

The next morning, the topic of Democrats everywhere is, "Palin can't swim."


and what is this?????? A secret gang sign?

No, just I love you in sign language

Friday, October 31, 2008

Halloween




Sorry folks but this is about as excited as I get about Halloween however this brightened my day




And this made me laugh which is better than crying
and over at Violet sky is some wonderful renditions of pumpkins...hope your day is all you hoped for........................................................................


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The height of frustration

Well to add to my political frustrations comes one of my pet peeves

Christmas displays not only before Thanksgiving but even before Halloween!

This picture I borrowed from Violet Sky is the best idea I've have ever seen.............


Don't you just love it!!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Screen savers

Isn't this cute?
I recently downloaded a free web site for screen savers and if you can find it.....I have the mama and baby duck one....every time I see it...............I smile:):)
So what does your screen saver look like?

Friday, October 24, 2008

Stimulus

Well yesterday, I did my part!

I hit the mall and used those gift certificates from J.C. Penny's that I have had since last Christmas and hoped and prayed they were still good. Yep, so three bras and four blouses (on sale) later I felt I was on a roll so headed for my very favorite store of all..........................................................


Savers You can call me cheap if you want to but I think paying $5.00 for a blouse instead of $30.00 and wearing it out to dinner on the difference is just plain logical. Now if I could just convince myself to invest in the market while it is at an all time low.........................
Two things I have never been good about...shopping and gambling.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Vague memory

"You can not help the poor by destroying the rich. You can not strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You can not bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You can not lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You can not further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You can not build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You can not help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves." --Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Surprise justice

Cactus plugging is the practice of vandalizing or destroying a cactus, usually a saguaro for fun. Typically the cactus is cut open, drained, then packed with explosives and ignited. In another variation, the vandal simple shoots bullets into the cactus body until portions fall off or the entire cactus falls over.

In one notorious incident in 1982, David Grundman was killed when an arm of the saguaro he was "plugging" fell on him.

The act of cactus plugging, if performed on a saguaro, is illegal. In any case, it is a particularly destructive form of vandalism as saguaros require over a hundred years to reach a substantial height.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Searching for some answers


Supreme Court rejects Ohio GOP bid
ASSOCIATED PRESS Friday, October 17, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court sided Friday with Ohio's top elections official in a dispute with the state Republican Party over voter registrations.
The justices overruled a federal appeals court that had ordered Ohio's top elections official to do more to help counties verify voter eligibility.
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, faced a deadline of Friday to set up a system to provide local officials with names of newly registered voters whose driver's license numbers or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms don't match records in other government databases.
Ohio Republicans contended the information for counties would help prevent fraud. Brunner said the GOP is trying to disenfranchise voters.
In a brief unsigned opinion, the justices said they were not commenting on whether Ohio is complying with a provision of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 that lays out requirements for verifying voter eligibility.
Instead, they said they were granting Brunner's request because it appears that the law does not allow private entities, like the Ohio GOP, to file suit to enforce the provision of the law at issue.
"They didn't deal with the merits of the case," said Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett. "What they dealt with was a technicality on whether we had standing or not to bring the action."
About 200,000 of 666,000 voters who have registered in Ohio since Jan. 1 have records that don't match. Brunner has said the discrepancies most likely stem from innocent clerical errors rather than fraud but has set up a verification plan.
Bennett said Brunner could have set up a system months ago to check the discrepancies and that her actions have left the potential for voter fraud.
"If we have a close election in Ohio and there's any doubts, the failures will be laid right at her doorstep," Bennett said.
Brunner said the court's decision would help ease confusion in the run-up to Election Day.
She said HAVA was clear that the mismatch lists were to be used to maintain the voter database, not to determine voter eligibility.
"We are very pleased that the court recognized that this was an illegal challenge on the part of the Republicans," she said.
She said the office would have found a way to comply, but there were risks that qualified voters would have been disqualified.
"I think it's an unfair tactic to subject voters to this kind of uncertainty and anxiety this close to such an important election," she said.
In court filings, the GOP has not produced any specific evidence of voting fraud, only unsubstantiated reports that voters from other states had cast fraudulent ballots during the early voting period.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said lower court rulings have clearly said the HAVA regulations require the secretary of state to match against the list, find where there's been fraud and inconsistencies and report them to counties.
"Why in the world would that not happen? We have the technology, the budget, the means and the manpower to make that happen. Do we really want to have to find out after the fact that we had counties that would have been decided one way or another because the secretary of state didn't bother doing the job the HAVA required?" Davis told reporters on a conference call. "I think the secretary of state ought to do her job," he added.

Does anyone out there understand this ? Who would have the standing to bring action?
Here is some information about HAVA
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
Congress passed a federal election reform law, the Help America Vote Act 2002 (HAVA), in October 2002 in response to the 2000 presidential election. The goal of the legislation is to improve administration of elections nationwide.

Goals of HAVA

HAVA will work to enhance:
Voting standards and education programs for voters and election officials
Accessibility for the disabled
Voter registration file maintenance

State Plan - The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requires each state to develop a state plan describing how it will implement HAVA.

My conclusion: Because we had so many problems in the last election a law was passed "HAVA" to reduce those problems but the Secretary of the State of Ohio has not adhered to that law and no one has the right to see to it that she does.
200,000 known discrepancies? A descrpancies is a difference in facts folks, look it up, not an innocent clerical error and if it is one then take the time to fix it! Notice that she says it would create a risk that qualified voters would not be counted but no mention of the great risk that 200,000 unqualified voters would be counted. I think I favor the later myself.
I just can't seem to understand these logics and I don't even consider myself very smart. What's your take on it?