Support Stella’s Place
Prayer Requests
Recent Comments
Stella on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… Lucille on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… Lucille on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… Lucille on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… WeeWeed on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… WeeWeed on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… Lucille on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… Lucille on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… texan59 on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… Lucille on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… auscitizenmom on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… auscitizenmom on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… auscitizenmom on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… auscitizenmom on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… WeeWeed on General Discussion, Monday, Ju… -
Recent Posts
-
Stella’s Post Archives
Blog Roll
Categories
- 2016 Presidential Race
- 2018 Election
- 2020 Election
- 2020 Presidential Race
- 2021 Elections
- 2022 Election
- 2024 Presidential Race
- Abortion
- Afghanistan Withdrawal
- Agenda 21
- AI
- Amendment 1
- Amendment 10
- Amendment 14
- Amendment 2
- Amendment 25
- Amendment 4
- Amendment 5
- Antisemitism
- AOC
- Artificial Intelligence
- Atheism
- baking
- Bible
- Biden Corruption
- Big Government
- Big Pharma
- Big Tech
- Bill of Rights
- Border Crisis
- Budget and spending
- Canada
- Capitalism
- cartoon
- CDC
- Celebrations
- Censorship
- Child molestation
- Child mutilation
- China
- Christianity
- CIA
- Civics
- Civil Disobedience
- Climate change
- Communism
- Congress
- Conservatism
- Constitution
- cooking
- Corruption
- COVID
- Crazy People
- Crime
- Critical Race Theory
- Current Events
- DeepState
- Defense Department
- Deficit
- Democracy
- Democrat corruption
- Diversity
- Drugs
- Economy
- Education
- Election Interference
- Energy
- Environment
- Equality
- Equity
- Euthanasia
- Evil
- Exceptionalism
- Faith
- Fake News
- Family
- Fascism
- FBI
- Free Markets
- Free Speech
- Freedom
- Gardening
- Gaslighting
- Gender madness
- Genocide
- Global Control
- Good news
- Government
- government corruption
- Green agenda
- gun control
- Hamas
- History
- Hobbies & General Interest
- Holidays
- Humor
- Hypocrisy
- Illegal Immigration
- Infanticide
- Inflation
- Internet
- Invasion
- Iran
- Israel
- Jan 6
- Jihadi
- Journalism
- Justice Department
- Language
- Law
- Lawfare
- Leadership
- Legislation
- Liberty
- Logic
- MAGA
- Mandates
- Media
- Mediocrity
- Meme
- Mental illness
- Military
- Military Industrial Complex
- Monetary Policy
- Music
- N.I.H.
- Nationalism
- Neocons
- New World Order
- News
- News International
- Nostalgia
- Obama
- Oil Prices
- Optimism
- Paganism
- Patriotism
- Pedophilia
- Poetry
- Politics
- Polls
- Preparedness
- Press Briefing
- Privacy
- Propaganda
- Puzzles & Quizzes
- Quote
- Racism
- Rally
- Recipes
- Refugees & Aliens
- Religion
- Republic
- RFK
- Russia
- Russia Russia Russia
- Save America 2024
- Schools & Education
- Science
- Sexual deviance
- Slavery
- Social Media
- Socialism
- Supreme Court
- Taxation
- Terrorism
- The Culture
- The Squad
- Trade
- Trafficking
- Treason
- Trump Politics
- Truth
- Tucker Carlson
- Ukraine
- Uncategorized
- Uniparty Corruption
- vaccination
- video
- Vote Fraud
- W.H.O.
- Weather
- Welfare
- Whittle
- Wokism
- World Economic Forum
Meta
Blog Pages
Finally! I was starting to feel withdrawal pains. 😯 Morning Stella.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Sorry about that!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Ditto!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yeah, I get a few frost-free moments to cruise by and it’s still ‘January 1’. Beginning to think the unprecedented national freeze caused by Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement froze ‘January 2’ in the transmission lines.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Ya, Ya, Ya, blame it all on Trump! (wink, wink), but I live for the cold weather!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can deal with the cold better than I can the hot (as witnessed by the Army training me for European warfare and assigning me to tropical/desert climes) but cold does have a reasonable lower limit.
LikeLike
Me too! I woke up to – 8° and no new thread at Stella!
LikeLiked by 1 person
– 4 here! A high of 10 today
LikeLiked by 3 people
My friend was freaking out last night because it was supposed to drop down to 39*. She has lived her whole life in Florida.
LikeLike
Y’all can brag that you’re colder than Alaska! We’ve got 40 degrees and dripping everywhere. I hate it when it does that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, it is 45* here in Central FL. Almost as cold as Alaska. 😯
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s 7 degrees here right now. Going below zero tomorrow, and for the next couple of days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
12 degrees here this morning. In Georgia!
LikeLike
I saw a pic on FB that showed snow in north Florida.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I guess that’s one advantage to a screwed up sleep cycle.
Morning US Mom!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mornin’ stella! (Smiter of those that ought to be smote) 😎 🍸 (Long Island Iced Tea)
Mornin’ WeeWeed! (Master Mixologist Extrodinare) 😎 🍸 (Old Fashioned)
Mornin’ Menagerie! 😎 (Jack Daniels – Single Barrel )
Mornin’ Ad rem! (Queen Felis catus) 🐱 🍸 (Flaming Lamborghini)
Mornin’ Sharon! 😎 🍸 🍸 (earthquake)
Mornin’ ytz4mee! 😎 🍸 (cosmopolitan)
Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (white wine and perrier)
Mornin’ partyzantski! 🙂 (Tom Collins)
Mornin’ texan59! 🙂 (Black & Tan)
Mornin’ ZurichMike! 🙂 🍸 (fuzzy navel)
Mornin’ Col.(R) Ken! (hand salute) 🙂 (Boilermaker)
Mornin’ czarina33! (aka czarina) 🙂 🍸 (Lynchburg Lemonade)
Mornin’ czarowniczy! 🙂 (Wild Turkey Rare Breed)
Mornin’ letjusticeprevail2014! 🙂 (Irish Car Bomb)
Mornin’ Patriot1783-ctdar! (aka “ctdar”) 🙂 🍸 (grasshopper)
Mornin’ tessa50! 🙂 🍸 (flaming volcano)
Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (sidecar)
Mornin’ varsityward! 🙂 (Godfather)
Mornin’ MaryfromMarin! 😀 (Mortlach)
Mornin’ Wooly Covfefe! (aka “Wooly Phlox” aka “taqiyyologist”) 🙂 (Roy Rogers)
Mornin’ Howie! (aka “doodahdaze”) 🙂 (Classic Daiquiri)
Mornin’ TwoLaine! 🙂 (Gin & Tonic)
Mornin’ Sha! 🙂 🍸 (Lemon Drop)
Mornin’ BigMamaTEA! 🙂 🍸 (Harvey Wallbanger)
Mornin’ cetera5! (aka “Cetera”) 🙂 (Blackberry wine)
Mornin’ The Tundra PA! 🙂 🍸 (Gentleman Jack Whiskey Sling)
Mornin’ lovely! 🙂 (Backdraft)
Mornin’ michellc! 🙂 🍸 (Salty dog)
Mornin’ auscitizenmom! 🙂 🍸 (Kiss on the Lips)
Mornin’ Margaret-Ann! 🙂 🍸 (White Russian)
Mornin’ Auntie Lib! 🙂 🍸 (Tom and Jerry)
Mornin’ holly100! 🙂 🍸 (Jack & Coke)
Mornin’ Pam! 🙂 (Not even water)
Mornin’ Ms.Tee! 🙂 🍸 (Mojito)
Mornin’ koolkosherkitchen! 🙂 🍸 🍸 (Cuba Libre)
Mornin’ ImpeachEmAll 🙂 (Flaming Dr. Pepper)
Mornin’ Monroe! 🙂 (Stinger)
Mornin’ Les! 🙂 (Rusty Nail)
Mornin’ shiloh1973! 🙂 (Jack Daniels)
Mornin’ TexasRanger! 🙂 (Whiskey Smash)
Mornin’ Ziiggii! 🙂 (B52)
Mornin’ oldiadguy! 🙂 (Rum & Coke)
Mornin’ smiley! (“stuck in spambucket”) 🙂 🍸 (Spanish coffee)
Mornin’ derk! (“Stellars”) 🙂 🍸 (Kamikaze)
Mornin’ Jacqueline Taylor Robson 🙂 🍸 (Shirley Temple)
Mornin’ facebkwallflower! 🙂 (Night Train Express)
Mornin’ Ms. Cindy! (aka “Ms Cynlynn” aka “ms cynlynn”) 🙂 🍸 (1970 ducru beaucaillou)
Mornin’ sandandsea2015! 🙂 🍸 (1961 Château Montrose)
Mornin’ amwick! 🙂 🍸 (Blue motorcycle)
Mornin’ hocuspocus13! 🙂 🍸 (1970 Chateau Latour)
Mornin’ Sloth1963! 🙂 🍸 (1971 Moulin Touchais)
Mornin’ MTeresa! (Ex-lurker) 🙂 (Albanian Raki Moskat)
Mornin’ Rhea Salacia Volans! 🙂 (Hot Buttered Rum)
Mornin’ joshua! 🙂 (Mudslide)
Mornin’ John Denney! 🙂 (RumChata)
Mornin’ litenmaus! 🙂 (Stolichnaya elit, no ice)
Mornin’ kinthenorthwest! 🙂 🍸 (A Lonely Island Lost in the Middle of a Foggy Sea)
Mornin’ TwoLaine! 🙂 (Smoking Bishop)
Mornin’ patternpuzzler! 🙂 🍸 (Old Lady)
Mornin’ Senatssekretär FREISTAAT DANZIG! 🙂 (Red Russian)
Mornin’ G-d&Country! 🙂 🍸 (Blind Russian)
Mornin’ Gary! 🙂 (Yuengling)
Mornin’ valeriecurren! 🙂 🍸 (Flaming Sambuca)
Mornin’ Lucille! 🙂 🍸 (Peach Schnapps)
Mornin’ Lburg! 🙂 🍸 (Lburg lemonade)
Mornin’ davidhuntpe! 🙂 (Baileys Irish Cream on the rocks)
Mornin’ skipper1961! 🙂 (Brompton’s Cocktail – No cherry, no umbrella, no plastic monkey)
Mornin’ mightyconservative! 🙂 (Benjamin Franklin’s clarified milk punch)
Mornin’ whiners and complainers! 😛 (No drink for you!)
Mornin’ to people posting that I missed. 😳
Mornin’ to all you lurkers! 😕
Also just in case someday; mornin’ to Elvis Chupacabra, F.D.R. in Hell and sundance!
Breakfast!
NEW and IMPROVED breakfast with extra bacon for ZurichMike!
Donuts
LikeLiked by 8 people
Good morning, nyet! Almost brunch, eh?
LikeLiked by 4 people
Heh heh I wondered if you were still celebrating New Year’s.
LikeLiked by 5 people
No such luck.
LikeLike
Man, that stuff in the pan looks good, B!
LikeLiked by 5 people
It does! I always like the looks of it.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good Morning Nyet – thanks for breakfast! ‘ Morning, all!
“Grits are hot; they are abundant, and they will by-gosh stick to your ribs. Give your farmhands (that is, your children) cold cereal for breakfast and see how many rows they hoe. Make them a pot of grits and butter, and they’ll hoe till dinner and be glad to do it.”
~ Janis Owens, The Cracker Kitchen: A Cookbook in Celebration of Cornbread-Fed, Down Home Family Stories and Cuisine
LikeLiked by 7 people
Grits are definitely better than cold cereal. A fine addition to any breakfast. And not too bad for dinner if you add some shrimp!
LikeLiked by 4 people
I luuuves me some grits! Never was fond of cheese in ’em, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
DH’s family is from the south. His dad ate grits and pig’s knuckles all the time. He can’t stand the sight of either of them, even the grits by themselves!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m a BIG fan of grits. I’m also a big fan of their larger cousin – hominy. ‘Spose that’s because my dad always liked hominy sitting alongside his fried eggs, scrapple and King’s syrup!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now that sounds good!
LikeLike
quoting a whites only cookbook??? Ha, Ha…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nye!!!!!!!!! Bacon Smoothies!!!!!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Wait a minute. Wouldn’t that be mincemeat if we just add some bourbon?
LikeLiked by 2 people
IDK, have to check with a mixologist……..
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh. Izzat why I always liked mincemeat? I have no clue how to make it, but my mama always served mincemeat pie and I especially loved it. This explains everything.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Mrs. Nyet says these taste like something her grandmother used to make.
https://shop.walkersshortbread.com/glenfiddich-mincemeat-tarts-p51.aspx
I get a couple (4-6) of boxes a year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yum.
LikeLiked by 2 people
DH’s favorite! Reminds him of home.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh! I just found their website right before Christmas. I was wondering about the non-cookie items. I’m giving the decorative tins of cookies as gifts next year to simplify gift giving.
LikeLike
Big sale on those right now. I ordered some. I haven’t had mincemeat for maybe forty years.
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me know! DH loves the cookies. I’ll buy some and hide for Valentine’s day! Thanks 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was a favorite of my mother too. I don’t think there was any booze in it, but there was meat (suet).
LikeLiked by 3 people
My mom used to get tins/cans of kidney pie from England you would take the top off and bake. It had puff pastry on the top that would puff up. They were pretty, but nobody but her would eat it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kidney pie tastes exactly like what it’s namesake organ produces. Urine. Smells like it, too. Yuck.
LikeLike
When I was a teenager, my dad wanted a kidney pie. He bought the kidneys and Mom refused to clean them or cook them. I didn’t know what was going on, but the house started to stink really badly. Next thing you know Mom, I, and my brother and sister were all standing outside as far away from the house as we could get without leaving the yard. My dad couldn’t smell and finally even he caught wind of it. He tried to feed it to the cat and the cat tried to bury it. Then he gave it to the hound next door who tried to bury it. Finally he took it out in the grapefruit grove behind the house and dug a deep hole and buried it himself. The end of the kidneys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s hilarious!!! We all left the house too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person
That looks delicious! It will be interesting to see if I still even like mincemeat. It’s been so long since I had it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Get me some bourbon and I’ll get back witcha.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Here is bacon bourbon for you!
http://www.baconbourbonusa.com/where-to-buy/
Commie Crippler
You are here: Home / Bacon Bourbon Cocktails / Commie Crippler
Ingredients
1.5 oz Olde Major Bacon Bourbon Whiskey
0.75 oz triple sec
0.75 oz lime juice
A couple of dashes licorice liqueur
Instructions
Pour the bourbon whiskey, triple sec, pernod and lime juice into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.
Click here to see more of our Bacon Cocktails!
Great name, but maybe I should have tried to find a hot bourbon/bacon drink!
LikeLiked by 1 person
THAT sounds sinful – mia gulpa, mia gulpa
LikeLike
Sigh….just checked and no place within 50 miles of me sells it and Mississippi is a state that won’t allow booze to be imported as it is the sole source of import and sales. Maybe I can talk a Louisiana outlet to receive a bottle.
LikeLike
Good morning Col. !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Morning to you lovely!!!!!!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Afternoon Col. 🙂
Bacon Smoothie
Ingredients
1/2 c plain yogurt
1 c soy milk
1/2 c frozen raspberries
1/2 c frozen blueberries
1/4 c fresh kale (I would leave out)
2 strips bacon-you know, already fried
2 T cocoa powder
2 T honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Toss it all in a blender and whiz it up good. Serve in your favorite goblet, garnish with another slice of bacon. (maybe add more bacon 1 comment said)
Bacon Milkshake
Ingredients
3 tablespoons real maple syrup
2 slices bacon, cooked
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup milk
Steps
In 1-quart saucepan, heat syrup and 1 slice of the bacon over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside to infuse bacon flavor into syrup.
In blender, place ice cream and milk. Cover; blend on medium speed until combined.
Remove bacon from syrup; discard bacon. (E-GADS! DISCARD BACON! HERESY! – ADD THAT BACK IN!) Add syrup to milk mixture; blend on low speed to combine.
Divide milkshake evenly between 2 glasses. Crumble remaining slice of cooked bacon; sprinkle over tops of milkshakes.
I have another recipe for Banana-Peanut Butter-Bacon Smoothies
LikeLike
Good morning Nyet 🙂 !
LikeLiked by 1 person
crawling through the mist…starvation looming… I’m led to a no-man’s land where there is no Stella, no nyet, the hunger pangs driving on the hallucination of reality when…..the angels sang and I viewed that one beautifully draped glazed donut calling me back from the brink….
And it begins…another beautiful day. :0).
LikeLiked by 5 people
I can’t imagine a cruller fate…
LikeLiked by 4 people
I once lost a Pate a Choixs….it came close….
LikeLiked by 1 person
By accident or by choice?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Seriously czar? When have you ever met a woman who deliberately lost one pair of shoes let alone a whole darn Pate of ’em? :0)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Imelda Marcos…OK, it was sort of an indirect deliberate loss but the case can be made.
LikeLiked by 3 people
LOL Glad to know you survived. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
HAHAHA! Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Morning Nyet! Thank you for breakfast!
Morning Stella! Morning all! Stay warm! I’m getting all bundled up and heading out into the cold. My last day of vacation and then back to work. I’ll check in later.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good morning Sand! Enjoy your day 🙂 !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dreamed last night that I was late for work. Then I woke up and remembered that I don’t go to work any more. Felt good.
LikeLiked by 9 people
🙂
I thought I posted a bourbon/bacon cocktail post to Czar’s comment. Did I mess something up again?
LikeLike
It’s great when you wake up and realize it was just a dream. I’m thankful that I’m able to work from home and do something I love. If I had to drive in Dallas, I’d be pretty unhappy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My daughter works from home more than half of the time. She has phone meetings, or meets with her contract employees at coffee shops sometimes. It has been great while her sons were still young, and she was close to school in case of emergencies.
It’s a very good job too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great, Stella. 🙂
It’s been a blessing to be able to work from home. I hope I can continue to do so until I retire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stella, I’m waiting to have that dream! (I still occasionally dream I’m smoking a cigarette) Today (still Tuesday for me) was my first day of real retirement. I luxuriated in it.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I still (very occasionally) dream I am smoking, and I quit in 1989.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afternoon SandandSea. Have fun on your last vaca day! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It was very fun. 😊
I hope you had a good day, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice lookin brunch there Nyet! Been meaning to comment on those work-of-art donuts! They are ALMOST too pretty to eat 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mornin’ Nyet, everyone. I missed breakfast this morning. Had to make my own. 😀
LikeLike
My favorite breakfast, Nyet…over well on the eggs…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the dots, & pics below! Thanks for such happy posts Lucille 🙂
DH just came in. See everyone Thursday.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good morning y’all. If I posted a picture it would look like the abominable snowman. Let’s go kick this new year’s cold, cold butt.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Mornin Menagerie 🙂 Have a look at the desert scene below, and warm up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to admit being a Floridian now. I grabbed my coat and threw it over one shoulder and stepped out the door into the wind. That’s when I felt cold air hit my toes. I hadn’t changed out of my sandals. At least I was wearing long pants and a warm shirt. 🙄 So I ran my errands in my sandals.
LikeLiked by 3 people
🙂 That’s being well-prepared!
My brother and family moved to Florida about 20 years ago. They VERY QUICKLY assimilated to the warmth, and have only come back north 3 times in 20 years. Because of my allergies I just wait for everything to freeze. The winter is my healthy season.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Mornin’ y’all! Colder ‘n a witch’s down here in Dixie…..
https://twitter.com/jojoh888/status/948010508124168193
LikeLiked by 8 people
Morning Wee! I am enriching TVA. How you holding up?
LikeLiked by 4 people
I am enriching Center Point Energy, myself! Mornin’ Menage…….I iz too old for cold….
LikeLiked by 3 people
WE Energies, here, I’ll be afraid to look at my bill this month!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good morning Wee! Brrrr…….⛄️!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Mornin’ Lovely!
LikeLiked by 2 people
19 last night, 21 at dawn and holding. Actually not that bad for short intervals when the wind ain’t blowing, I was out checking pumps while just wearing a t-shirt; however, that 10 MPH wind sails across the lake, picking up moisture in the process, and it gets a bit knifey.
Due to the potential for suits related to sexual harassment our insurance agent has advised us to avoid using any part of a witch’s anatomy in an environmental comparison capacity. He’s advised us use a standardized conversion table that converts witch values to more acceptable well digger units of measurement.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Troof!! Mornin’ Z!
LikeLiked by 3 people
The barber in town is my pork purveyor. I sometimes go to the shop to sit and chat, a la Mayberry, about the local happenings. When I walk in he now says he can’t talk with me for fear of sexual harassment charges. So he puts who ever is in the chair in charge of our communications, i.e. “would you tell her that (fill in the blank) ’cause I ain’t talkin’ to her…”
I suppose to be fair, we also can’t say ‘freeze the balls off a brass monkey’, can we?
(This website says the stories about naval references and cannon balls is, to quote the article, “tosh”.)
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cold-enough-to-freeze-the-balls-off-a-brass-monkey.html
LikeLiked by 3 people
There’s a pun-begging topic fraught with moderation potential…
Our custom butcher is an unwashed-in-the-blood-of-PC guy…but then we go there for meat with no expectation of more than appropriate service. If we’re out for drinks and an afternoon of social indignation we go to our local Big Box where our purchases help fund Chinese military expansion and where we’re served by employees working in a gulag-lite system.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wasn’t that bought and rechristened the Al Jazeera?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mornin Czar, and Mornin to the Missus Czarina as well!
Yeah! How awful was that! Nasty al gore!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Shows that Gore, a core Rat, feels that crawling into bed with terrorists (‘specially if there’s a profit *prophet* involved) is less disdainful than climate change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HAHAHA! Mornin WeeWeed 🙂 Now it just needs to sink out of sight, out of mind.
Reminds me of the coastline after the blizzard of 78!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mornin’ G&C!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I laughed. Fell down.
Knocked a bunch of stuff over. Hit my head on a windowsill. Ouch.
Actually, that was two nights ago. But I did laugh at this one.
LikeLike
Did you see that brilliant Full Moon last night…
Happy New Year
LikeLiked by 6 people
It was awesome. Viewed through my bedroom window, because I ain’t venturing out unless I have to. I have a letter to mail, and I am probably not even going to the mailbox today, even though I ought to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I stuck my head and hand out the night before to try and get a picture of the moon, and found 3 deer staring back at me. (The deadbolt on the door scares them.)
LikeLiked by 3 people
One of my dogs just had a very happy few minutes chasing tome through the woods. I didn’t spot them until the dog got them moving.
I suspect I have deer bones on my porch. There is a large leg bone and some vertebrae.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m hoping that’s a joke! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fraid not. The dogs bring home bones periodically. In his younger days I am pretty sure the male dog brought down deer a few times, but I suspect they were hurt or sick or old. Now I think they are finding them, probably from hunters in the area.
We live out in the woods. Lots for dogs to get into.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A large breed dog I’m guessing. We often think of getting a dog or two, but there are so many deer and deer ticks around here with all the forest we do not want them bringing them back!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You can medicate for ticks, fleas, etc.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good point. I really should research if they cause any harm to the dog, since I’m guessing they are insecticides. We have to get ourselves in shape before thinking about a dog as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I give my puppyTrifexus. I really didn’t want to. And, I was a little afraid of it, but she was so covered in fleas when I got her and nothing else seemed to help. So, I finally gave in and got it. I have had her for 7 years, used it all that time, and she is very healthy so far. She is 12 now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
When me and my friend were building his late wife’s house, on land we cleared, his lab brought us back half a rotted doe while we were clearing the land. And he had rolled in it, of course. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Riley I said a black lab, and yeah, he brings home special things.
LikeLike
Crap. Riley IS a black lab.
LikeLike
😦
LikeLike
It was beautiful, and with no clouds made the snow and ice landscape just amazing!. I said to DH that’s it. I have to splurge on a new camera. My little one is literally falling apart, and can not take night pics. I miss out on beautiful scenes like last night!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yeah, great here. Cold humidity-free sky with no clouds. All we needed was a smooth blanket of snow…speaking theatrically of course.
LikeLike
Let us hope that this is true, and the beginning of a resolution of the problem:
Korean-American Professor Couple Identify Major Cause of Autism
http://www.koreadailyus.com/korean-american-professor-couple-identify-major-cause-autism/
A Korean couple who are both working as professors at prestigious U.S. universities proved the main cause of autism.
The couple found that certain bacteria in the mother’s digestive tract can lead to having an autistic child. Furthermore, they found the exact brain location linked to autistic behaviors, which can be used to find a cure for autism.
Science journal ‘Nature’ published the couple’s two research studies on the 14th. The couple are Harvard Medical School’s professor Huh Jun-ryeol, and MIT’s professor Gloria Choi.
LikeLiked by 3 people
More:
http://news.mit.edu/2017/studies-explain-link-between-autism-severe-infection-during-pregnancy-0913
LikeLiked by 2 people
More (but complete paper available to members only):
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature23909
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, I hope they are on to something here and they can get a cure.
And I hope there’s an actual cure, unlike the Greatest Diabetes Myth ever: “We’re working on a cure.”
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’ve been noticing more research by mainline facilities in gut bacteria and disease, and that includes bacteria from the mouth onward.
I accidentally ran across a study on how gut bacteria changes in diabetics causing a B-12 deficiency. A neurologist I went to had me go on to a prescription-only nutraceutical that would increase the availability of B-12 in order to prevent neuropathy…and it’s working.
Just a few days ago I ran across another article tha shows a link between certain mouth bacteria and esophageal cancer: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320232.php
Even though these reports are accomplished by respected mainline facilities don’t expect mainline pharma-controlled medicine to start looking at proper eating vice popping pills any time soon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very interesting! I do b-12 shots which I hate doing. I also have had intestinal problems all my life, as well as over 10 operations on my mouth, and esophageal problems. Pretty much all of my digestive system from my mouth all the way through has problems. I don’t know what happened to my mom when she was carrying me during the time my digestive tract was being developed, but it did not develop as well as it should have.
I’m definitely reading that article, and any others you may have to post. THANKS!
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://jdmdonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2251-6581-12-17
Just Google ‘gut bacteria and disease’ and stand back. One thing I’ve noticed is the number of NIH articles recommending ‘further studies’ and seeing none – hmmmmmm, coincidence?
My neurologist put me on Metanx, made by Nestles and not only have my B-12 levels shot up but the rather minimal neuropathy I had has greatly improved – I’m lucky to have found him.
I’ve also gone to a probiotic with a more varied ‘bug’ composition, a prebiotic to help the probiotics that make it thru the stomach and gone back to real milk, cheese and yogurt. I’m seeing more studies that refute the ‘eat dairy and die’ stories the docs love so much – it’s a matter of moderation and common sense.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Had a reply with info – got big shock and relpy wiped out! Will answer in a little while
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi. I had to put hand lotion on to stop getting shocked when I typed on computer – guess my house is too dry.
Thanks for the search tip. I agree with you about NIH articles recommending ‘further studies’ and seeing none. Yup. Until big pharma takes over food production that is.
I will look up what Metanx does, and it’s side effects. Thanks.
The probiotics I use are 2 together that help me: Flora Udo’s choice Super Bifido Plus Probiotic & Integrative Therapeutics Pro-flora Concentrate.
I also do not believe the ‘eat dairy and die’ stories. My doc said store bought yogurt is not fermented long enough, and make my own or try a kefir. I eat Green Valley Organics Lactose free Whole Milk Kefir with no problems. Doc also said to (and he does himself) eat organic and rotate food. Many say organic is a scam, but for me it is the difference between being able to eat a food, leafy greens for example, or having extremely severe, doubled over stomach aches. I think, for me at least, the insecticides in pesticided food are enough to kill the good bacteria in my gut, and injure my gut.
” it’s a matter of moderation and common sense.” Yes. I wonder what long term (for the last 50 years) over-use of antibiotics and pesticided food have done to our gut. I read a study about 20 years ago comparing the nutritional value of a green pepper from around 1920 versus about 1990. The 1920’s pepper (before massive use of pesticides) had much more nutrition value. There is a need to produce more food for more people, but I really don’t agree with the overuse of pesticides or round-up ready seeds.
The most recent GI doc I was sent to put me on Fodmap diet. Probably the latest medical fad. I have to check it out more. I believe in a variety of whole foods, organic if needed (I don’t care about root veggies or nuts being organic) and chewed well. I only have coffee until 3pm, then switch to water. I am now trying to cut coffee down to 2 cups in morning.
Thanks so much. Hope your health continues to improve. God Bless.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Look on ebay for yogurt makers, they’re everywhere. I use a local pasteurized but not homogenized full-fat milk, makes a yogurt stiff enough to dance on. Also gives me a more direct route to the cow than store-bought and overly processed stuff. The heavier fatted yogurt also makes great yogurt cheese, a quite easy process.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I thought you had to use un-pasteurized milk for it to work. Oh, wait, that would mean raw milk. Hm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can even use homogenized milk, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve even used store-bought milk in a pinch, it works. You put a teaspoon or more (depending on the size of the batch) of store-bought yogurt that has live cultures in it as a starter. We even put the yogurt starter in the farm milk as you’re sure you’re getting what you want and not some vagrant bug. The heating before you prep the milk kills the bugs anyway, starter starts you off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My grandfather died of pernicious anemia – which we know now is caused by a lack of intrinsic factor in the gut, which prevents the synthesis of B12 in the diet. That was in 1924. I believe a deficiency of B12 is common in older folks.
I received B12 injections when I was pregnant, because I had what they called pernicious vomiting. The injections helped; I was still nauseous for the first few months, but at least I could keep food down.
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8618
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for the info. God rest your grandfather’s soul.
I’m glad you received the b12 during pregnancy. Pernicious vomiting sounds really horrible for you, and not good for the baby! My mom had to have b12 shots, but stopped. I wonder what that did. She also was put on various meds to try and keep me after her previous pregnancy (when she was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets, and the twins died), then meds to help me out because I was so late.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the B12 helped to keep me out of the hospital, as it allowed me to keep down food and water. In extreme cases, the condition requires IV fluids and, sometimes, a feeding tube.
As it was, I lost 13 pounds in a little more than a week. I have never felt so horrible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mom had similar B12 injections during pregnancy, done by my Great Uncle (a WWII med vet) under the skin & they made a huge difference for her too. She’s always been more prone to vomiting kind of illnesses than have been her children & grandchildren…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, older you get it seems the gut flora slides, may be due to older folks not eating right/enough. I know I had to arm wrestle to get a B-12 level check at the docs, finally just told my neurologist the GP was reluctant even though I was 65 and diabetic. He rolled his eyes, did the test and put me on the Metanx. A year later my levels were over 1500 pg/ml.
Lotta things docs ignore on us older folks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope they figure it out, and also figure out how to cure it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
In our case, having a set of twins, who may or may not be identical (long story), but only one is autistic would seem to imply that there is likely much more to the story…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Possibly, and possibly not. Have you ever had a time when one twin was sick, and the other not?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, many times. But living with 6 people in just under 1500 square feet most illnesses were passed around amongst us all. Given the major differences in our twins’ trajectory (one was less than half the size of the other at birth & needed open heart surgery before coming home from the NICU) it’s very difficult to compare their lives.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think they lump together a number of different conditions under the umbrella of “autism” because they don’t really know what it is or what causes it. Could, therefore, be several different causes.
Group B strep has been recognized fairly recently as a cause of brain injuries in newborns, among other things. About 25% of pregnant women carry it.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Interesting. My son’s primary doc, who runs one of the three state recognized autism centers in MI, also has some belief in the vaccine-autism connection. In a relatively recent visit I articulated some concerns in this domain & she alluded to a potential connection with neurobiological fragility & pumping toxins into young bodies. I don’t believe she is against vaccinating, per se, but more cautious about the suggested timetables for vaccines, especially in infants/children that already have some systemic compromise. It’s Possible that the vaccine situation contributed to the existence/severity of “autism” for my one son.
On the other hand, there are some who speculate that ADHD & Autism exist on a continuum & it’s really only a matter of degree. Given my husband (& his brother[s]) having ADHD & at least 3 of my 4 kids having it it is quite likely that in our family there already is some degree of genetic tendency toward neurobiological issues…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Valerie, It’s always good to see you. I was hoping you would weigh in on this because of your personal knowledge and experiences. First my apologies up front if I sound clinical I am trying to be respectful while also just looking at the science of mental health disorders.
I know that schizophrenia and Autism are very different sides of the spectrum but I have more intimate and personal experience with schizophrenia so I have educated myself more in that area.
Studies of identical twins are always informative.
Sharing identical genetics in the womb does not mean a 100% physical reaction to things within or without the womb nor according to a new study that I just read about today does it mean the malleable alleles will follow the same curve upward or downward. Scientists still do not know why one identical twin is schizophrenic and another has no mental health disorder (an identical twin has about a 30 – 50% chance of being schizophrenic if his or her twin is schizophrenic). Alleles are not static even in identical twins.
Genetics and Schizophrenia – A Twin Study
http://www.schizophrenic.com/news/schizophrenia-research/genetics-and-schizophrenia-twin-study
Singh looked at about one million markers of identical twins (and their two parents) where only one twin had schizophrenia. “The most informative feature of schizophrenia is that it sometimes runs in the family. So, for example, the risk of developing schizophrenia is much higher if your brother, sister, mother or father have the disease,” says Singh, noting in the general population about one percent have schizophrenia. “We started with the belief that monozygotic twins are genetically identical, so if one member of identical twins has schizophrenia, then the risk for the other twin should be 100 percent, if it’s all due to genes. However, studies over the years have shown that the risk of the disease in both twins is only 50 percent.” That means either the twins are genetically not identical or the familial disease involves non-genetic (random) effects.
Singh and his team have now demonstrated that the monozygotic twins are not genetically identical. “So if schizophrenia is in the genes, then the difference in the genetic makeup of monozygotic twins, with only one disease twin, must have something to do with the disease.” Singh found about 12 per cent of DNA can vary across individuals, “Cells are dividing as we develop and differentiate. More importantly, these cells may lose or acquire additional DNA. The genome is not static.
I thought I had read about the work that the Huh doctors are doing on Autism before? I thought Stella or Menagerie had posted it.
The Huh’s study on bacteria and a connection to Autism coupled along side of Dr. Singh’s study lays a foundation for further study especially since there the possibility of preventive measures as demonstrated in mice.
From the article about the Huh’s work;
A 2010 study that included all children born in Denmark between 1980 and 2005 found that severe viral infections during the first trimester of pregnancy translated to a threefold risk for autism, and serious bacterial infections during the second trimester were linked with a 1.42-fold increase in risk. These infections included influenza, viral gastroenteritis, and severe urinary tract infections.
More from the Huh article;
In the second Nature paper, the researchers delved into some of the additional factors that influence whether or not a severe infection leads to autism. Not all mothers who experience severe infection end up having child with autism, and similarly not all the mice in the maternal inflammation model develop behavioral abnormalities.
“This suggests that inflammation during pregnancy is just one of the factors. It needs to work with additional factors to lead all the way to that outcome,” Choi (Huh) says.
1.42 fold increase seems very small to the large picture not the individual I did not pay to read the longer article but what were the perimeters? What else was similar or dissimilar during the women’s pregnancies other than an infection sever enough for hospitalization?
Were the women who had infections from something other than the flu studied? Were women who had a severely infected wound during pregnancy ever studied? Did the in uteri babies process the drugs used to treat their mothers infection differently?
This seems to be the key to the Huh’s study but what is the lock? How is it applicable to the real world of Autism prevention? The vast majority of women who have the flu or other viral or bacterial infections do not have autistic children.
The researchers found that the patches are most common in a part of the brain known as S1DZ. Part of the somatosensory cortex, this region is believed to be responsible for proprioception, or sensing where the body is in space. In these patches, populations of cells called interneurons, which express a protein called parvalbumin, are reduced. Interneurons are responsible for controlling the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain, and the researchers found that the changes they found in the cortical patches were associated with overexcitement in S1DZ.
Also majority of people with autism, as with the majority people with schizophrenia have physical problems along with their thought processing and communication problems. So it has always raised the question in my mind as to whether the brain is following the the disorder of the body or the body is following the disorder of the brain.
Interesting study. I hope and pray for a cure. I am pleased and grateful that there are people dedicated to studying what ails us.
Thank you for allowing me to wonder.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I appreciate all you’ve shared here & don’t mind a clinical presentation, dispassionate facts, etc and all. Sometimes it’s easier to detatch to deal with topics that can be fraut with uncomfortable emotions.
I latched onto some of what was presented on the brain in your 3rd from the bottom paragraph. Josiah used to really struggle with proprioceptive senses–he still does to some degree. Amongst many things worked on in “Sensory Integration Therapy” were proprioceptive & vestibular responses/senses. He also had a history of intermittent dizzy spells, never diagnosed, but postulated to be “benign paroximal vertigo”…
Coming to terms (& getting treatments for) my own son’s autism related needs have become part of a life-long journey of parenting & lifestyle tweaking, at least for me.
I was fascinated by the concept of being able to turn some of the atypical behaviors on & off, as noted in the one article. It is very suggestive of at least part of what goes on neuro(bio)logically May be able to be mapped out & eventually (at least partially) treated…Hmm…
Dealing with complex mental/emotional/behavioral challenges in a family member (or oneself) can make life an exceedingly complex dance. We’ve never had to deal with schizophrenia (thankfully), but depression, anxiety, & OCD are part of the package associated with autism around here…& all the ADHD & associated impulsivity & inattention pervasive in this household makes coherent communication challenging on a pretty consistent basis too…
Blessings to you & yours (& sorry if my tone is off here–we’ve been fairly sick in our household for so long that in addition to the ubiquitous colder temps it feels like we’re even trapped in our own broken biology, ad nauseum!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing off about your tone Valerie 🙏🏼.
One of my favorite truths about life is “statistics mean nothing to the individual” it is never more clearly expressed than with mental health.
Today I met a little girl who has damage to her amygdala and she literally has no fear.
I came home and cried for about two hours. I simply can’t imagine what her parents go through on a daily basis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your tenderhearted compassion for others!
When you think some mental “disorders” are/were quantified with the MMPI (Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory, if memory serves) which was “normed” using an in-patient psych population, I believe…& when you consider how extremely politicized the “mental health” arena is, it’s a wonder that anyone that is considered “conservative” &/or Christian isn’t already locked up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice Pic Stella!
Good Morning everyone 🙂 It’s still morning right? hehehe
So to warm up today, and start the new year in a happy, bright direction here is another posting of one of my favorite current artists Erin Hansen Clouds.I posted one of her paintings before with a little bio.
It is beautiful, and a few degrees here, below 0 last night as was in many areas last night. Beautiful huge moon,with clear skies causing the snow and ice to be that magic-like bluish feeling! Have a great day everyone!
LikeLiked by 6 people
After googling for where the location is for Stella’s photo, among other suggestions up popped…
Sunset at island (Si Chang), Chonburi, Thailand
Is that correct, Stella, or is it of somewhere else?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Also, googling the mountain range at the top came up with Telluride, Colorado…such a pretty little town….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Telluride is beautiful, but I prefer it in the summer, when you can get into the back country by jeep.
LikeLike
Here is the complete picture.
ADD: I think this is actually the Dallas Divide, which is northwest of Telluride.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Breathtaking when you click for enlargement. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you have never been to that part of the world, I highly recommend it. Beauty everywhere you look. Summer is great. You can take jeeps up on the old mine roads (they have guided trips, or you can rent a jeep). Great place to explore. In July or August, the mountain meadows are covered in wild flowers.
Yankee Boy Basin, between Telluride and Ouray:
I have taken photos that are almost this beautiful.
LikeLike
I want to drive the Alaska highway from Seattle.
I had a friend, years ago, who went and did that, with a 35mm film camera. Some of the most stunning images I’ve ever seen. We were working in the “mountains” in New Hampshire, on a farm. Those New England hills aren’t mountains. Those are just big hills.
He asked me, “How close do you think the mountain in this picture is?”
I said “20 miles, at most.”
He said, nope. 80 miles.
The most beautiful places I’ve been I didn’t have a camera.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do it, Wooly! It’s an incredible experience. Beautiful beyond belief. I drove it from Seattle to Anchorage some years ago; plan to do it the other way sometime this summer.
LikeLike
http://www.hanselmannphotography.com/AllArticles/YankeeBoyBasin.html
LikeLike
Nope. Lake Superior (see watermark in the bottom left corner).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoops, I vaguely recall seeing the turquoise color ball, but didn’t enlarge the photo. Well, so much for googling. Thailand is pretty anyway. LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
G&C, that painting has some serious impasto going on.
I think that’s my new desktop for a while.
LikeLike
I am not going to be around tomorrow, so here is a fun painting for Wednesday: Shoreline Fun by Tom Brownings
LikeLiked by 6 people
Here are 2 pics for Doggity day tomorrow:
A little doggy having fun:
And then what you are left to deal with:
Have a great day everyone, and hello to anyone I missed! See you all later 🙂
LikeLiked by 6 people
Such a precious doggie! Fill a tub with warm water in the mud room and then give her a bath, too. LOL!
LikeLike
Is that a purebred wiener dog or part?
LikeLike
Cleared the alley, and the stoops of six businesses, last week, four times. Once with a light shovel. Three times with a nice Toro. Doing it all with a shovel screwed my lower back up real good.
Putting my pants and boots on is really fun. From an audio perspective.
The Toro died two days ago, halfway through the job. Probably the belt that drives the blades.
Taking it to Doug tomorrow. He’ll fix that mo-fo.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I still this a side business for you or good deeds?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good deeds. I’ve been clearing this alley for ten years. Not about to stop.
This is Doug. Wonderful hardware-store owner/operator, serious and quick with the puns. My landlord is, too. When they meet, it’s like watching a good movie sword-fight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Czar and Mary would get along well with my landlord and Doug. My landlord went to grade school and high school with Robin Williams. According to him, the whole class, for years, was very quick with the wit, and confounded the teachers at every turn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
FTA:
Some stricken with pun-lust sink so far into their infirmity that their minds become trained to lie in wait for words on which to work their wickedness. They are the scourge of dinner tables and the despised prolongers of office meetings, some letting fly as instinctively as dogs bark and frogs croak, no longer concerned even with drawing applause; they simply can’t help themselves.
Mary and Czar. Your “infirmity”, and “wickedness”. I love it!
Happy New Year, yolks. You some good eggs.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I really liked early Robin Williams, his ability to go right off the top of his head was right up there with Jonathan Winters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speaking of whom
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a disorder. A disease. Punning spreads like the flu. Or like butter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for these. I probably picked Czar because he punned so freely & readily. Punning was my father’s a favorite humor. A quick turn of phrase or word with several meanings is infinitely rewarding, & what those of us who are slower admire. And Czar does it in a couple of languages.
LikeLiked by 2 people
BS, it was the gravy that got me in and you know it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some say it’s the lowest form of humor and I disagree. I think it’s the highest.
Anyone can tell a funny or disgusting (which is “funny” now) story on a microphone.
Not anyone can just be quick with the wit and funny at the drop of a hat.
Only the most intelligent can do that. That NYT article nails it, regarding my landlord, Doug, Czar, and Mary. I think of the best puns. 20 minutes later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have always said that I can come up with a snappy comeback………….if you will give me 24 hrs. 🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
From 1600 DAILY today, January 2, 2018
Off and running
After spending Christmas with the First Family in Florida, President Donald J. Trump returned to Washington yesterday. In 2018, his Administration will look to build on a remarkable first calendar year in office.
A few of the 2017 highlights:
• Kicking the American economy into high gear with $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, 1.7 million new jobs, and more than 60 record highs for the Dow Jones index
• Putting America first in trade by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and working to modernize NAFTA
• Making government more accountable, including by nominating 73 conservative federal judges
• Promoting peace through strength by rebuilding the U.S. military and repelling ISIS across Syria and Iraq
“HAPPY NEW YEAR!,” the President tweeted Sunday evening. “We are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and much faster than anyone thought possible!”
Tax cuts: ‘The numbers will speak’
Before the Christmas holiday, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts Act into law, fulfilling a major campaign promise to the American people.
“As you know, $3.2 trillion in tax cuts for American families, including the doubling of the standard deduction and the doubling of the child tax credit,” the President said during the signing ceremony. “The typical family of four earning $75,000 will see an income tax cut of more than $2,000 . . . [And] because we’re signing today, they’re going to start to see that in February. The numbers will speak.”
January is National Mentoring Month
This week marks the beginning of National Mentoring Month—an initiative started and endorsed by President George W. Bush in 2002 to promote youth mentoring.
In a Presidential Message yesterday, President Trump reiterated the importance of this work to building a strong nation in the years to come. Specifically, he encouraged all Americans to reflect on how they might use their time and talents to change the life of a child, whether it be through teaching, religious guidance, community leadership, or even simple friendship.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
President Donald J. Trump holds a video teleconference with members of the U.S. military | December 24, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s 33 here in the Willamette Valley at 10 am so I suppose it was in the 20s overnight. I well remember 30 and 35 below zero (air temp, not wind chill) so I’m grateful.
I so appreciate the four seasons without having to have my life threatened by them. Eastern Oregon can be bitter cold. Here we sometimes dip into the teens but not often. Works for me.
I’m so glad God made Christmas Himself. Our Christmas “celebration” was turned into a mess by an adrenaline-driven drama-queen ex-dil. Her primary tool was her mid-20s sweet son (gs) who doesn’t get it yet. Her primary victim was my son who still isn’t totally convinced that there isn’t some way to negotiate with a liar. Everyone else was collateral damage. She values collateral damage. She’s a super-Christian, full of froth and spiritual sayings, who has surrounded her self by other super-Christian-women from her church who claim (based on their personal observation) that she can do no wrong and everyone else is E-Ville. So they say. And then they share on facebook. Isn’t that special.
Those who are willing to use other people as a weapon to get at still other people and who think themselves appointed to punish others – – ah, well – – so it is in this life.
This isn’t my first rodeo or my second, but it’s tiring.
Being a Sheep and all, I’m under the care of a very Good Shepherd and He totally gets it. Like I said, I’m glad God made Christmas fer real. How my Christmas “goes” is not significant in the big scheme of things.
My sister used to say, every year, “Well, I better get to it and make Christmas…..” (speaking of all her tasks). Of course I knew what she meant – but I also knew she meant it. Sometimes I probably become tiresome as in being overly serious about things. Too often there is not enough acknowledgement of reality and as a result, there’s a lot of skating through and not dealing with life as it really is. And that carries a price tag that I’m not able to pay continuously. I stopped trying to pay it 36 years ago which sometimes makes me too serious for nice company.
Oh, well. So it goes. It’s all good as long as I remember the Shepherd’s care and seek it.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Oh – I need to acknowledge, all of that is pretty much over with, at least for the time being! These things are cyclical in a way and certainly not 24/7 for me. Just ticks me off. [as you may have noticed] 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Sharon I can relate. I am glad it is over for you for a while. I love Christmas because of what God does for us. I hate x-mas for what family does to us. I am just forcing myself to get some sleep after a horrid piece of info found out last week that might involve me with family and a legal mess for a very long time. There really are people that enjoy making people miserable. I consider interacting with such people as penance for my sins, but getting dragged into a long term pile of legal doo-doo is quite another issue.
“Sometimes I probably become tiresome as in being overly serious about things.” Yes I am the same way. I have learned which people I can talk and socialize with, and which I just smile and say the nicities. Penance and move on to better things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Understood….and those people who enjoy making people miserable…..seem to thrive on it. Those who do not thrive on it are at an inherent disadvantage. Being human we are. I appreciate a reminder my bestest pastor from 30 years ago would occasionally share, “We live life as it is, not as we wish it was.” Yes, indeed.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Be sure to get the final hit in the last line. Sometimes I just shake my head. I really do not get these people. I know I lean way conservative in theological beliefs, but holy crap, if you wanna make up your own religion, go do it. Why mess around with Christianity? Be original.
Hint: They call Jesus gender neutral.
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2018/01/you-couldnt-make-this-up-if-you-tried/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, dear. I think I’ll take your word for it and pass…..maybe after I’ve had breakfast!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I read either this or a similar article a short while ago. Christianity is the root of Western Civilization, and the regressives must destroy both to succeed. Have you looked at this website: https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php
It has some very thoughtful articles. My dad would get the paper version back in the stone ages.
LikeLiked by 2 people
OK – I was going to start working over an hour ago!
I just heard on the radio Orrin Hatch saying he is retiring, and Romney is the front to take his place. Living in Mass. when Romney was governor, and also in NH, I am really NOT happy about Romney as senator. He is like a dog that has to stick his nose in the camera lens. No matter what his father wanted, he will not be president, even after becoming a senator.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I had nothing against George Romney, one-time governor of Michigan, but I certainly have no love for his son at this point. I supported him in 2012, only because he was the nominee, but never would again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s being foreseen that Romney will run against President Trump in the primaries. GOPers are hard at work trying to locate the most viable candidate for their side. Mitt will start touring the U.S. making speeches and going to visit foreign dignitaries.
And you know Romney’s just itching to say every negative thing he can in primary debates…like he was completely unwilling to do in 2012 against Barry. I can see it now–Mitt practicing in a mirror a list of snappy and insulting comebacks to the President’s answers.
After one of his sons said his father didn’t really want to win the Presidency anyway, why should we think Mitt would be serious the next time around? It wouldn’t bother him a bit to lose to the Dem once again, either. Anything, ANYTHING, to remove our President from office.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t see Romney winning against any of the candidates Pres. Trump beat soundly. Much less the President.
Democrats are often too stupid to know which side their bread is buttered n, but that is not likely for conservatives and Republicans. If the economy stays strong, along with tax cuts being popular, and jobs being more secure Romney is going to take the worst lickin’ he’s had to date. The man must like it.
And the powers that think they be once again prove how totally, absolutely without a clue what the voters want they are.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think he will try for the Senate first (Hatch’s seat) as a stepping stone to the Presidency. I hope he falls flat on his face.
LikeLiked by 3 people
MAIL MATTERS
Published on Jan 2, 2018
It’s not easy being away from home.
That’s why the Marines with Combat Logistics Detachment 5, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, ensure Marines and Sailors forward deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of operations receive mail service in every clime and place.
(U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jocelyn Ontiveros)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Disabled Woman Who Couldn’t Communicate For 21 Years Talks to Her Mom on Christmas
by Alex Schadenberg January 2, 2018 | 5:41PM OTTAWA, CANADA
http://www.lifenews.com/2018/01/02/disabled-woman-who-couldnt-communicate-for-21-years-talks-to-her-mom-on-christmas/
LikeLike
From the White House’s West Wing Reads…
The Trump effect: Business, anticipating less regulation, loosens purse strings
Binyamin Appelbaum and Jim Tankersley in The New York Times
Writing in The New York Times, Binyamin Appelbaum and Jim Tankersley report that “a wave of optimism has swept over American business leaders, and it is beginning to translate into the sort of investment in new plants, equipment and factory upgrades that bolsters economic growth, spurs job creation — and may finally raise wages significantly.”
Appelbaum and Tankersley write that top executives are particularly excited about President Trump’s regulatory rollback, which eliminated 22 regulations for every new one implemented last year. Business leaders also applauded tax reform. “Businesses acknowledge that the most important reason for their increased optimism is the simple fact that the domestic economy continues to expand, with few clouds on the horizon,” Appelbaum and Tankersley report.
————
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told reporters today that “we must not be silent” when it comes to Iran, CNN reports. “The people of Iran are crying out for freedom,” Haley said, warning the international community to avoid making the mistake of staying silent as it did in 2009.
————
Sadie Gurman of the The Associated Press details the Justice Department’s work to combat the opioid epidemic. Gurman outlines the DOJ’s effort to provide local law enforcement with “a trove of data” on opioid abuse within their communities—including which doctors are issuing the most prescriptions and how far patients will travel to see specific providers.
————
The Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial Board argues that the repeal of the individual mandate in the Republican tax reform bill is “one of the tax bill’s most salutary elements.” According to the editors, “The mandate gave the federal government far too much power over individual choices,” and repealing it will give Americans back “some of the freedom they had lost.”
————
Alfredo Ortiz, president of the Job Creators Network, writes in The Wall Street Journal about “Congress’s gift to blue-state taxpayers.” In limiting the state and local tax deduction as part of the Tax Cuts Act, Republicans “will enforce fiscal discipline” in states that tax and spend the most.
LikeLike
Can these remittances be taxed at least 30% heck 100%? Ill egals and illegal activity bleeding us dry from local, state, federal services that should go to our own people, and sending record billions to mexico?
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2018/01/02/cash-remittances-mexico-set-26b-record-2017-says-central-bank/
LikeLiked by 2 people
lilbirdee12’s prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.
Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.
Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and Mike Pence and their families as they seek to lead America back to You.
Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.
We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Amen
LikeLike
Amen.
LikeLike
Amen.
LikeLike
Amen
LikeLike
Lots of nasty weather in store. Really good and detailed article here.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/01/02/monster-storm-to-blast-east-coast-before-polar-vortex-uncorks-tremendous-cold-late-this-week/?utm_term=.008a382b1281
LikeLike
Please send me rain. It was 80 today and sweaty hot at the park. Kiddo playing on new equipment, slipped, hit his head, and fell about 4 feet on his butt. Ground is that recycled rubber. Hes ok, but I called the city. Cute playground but steps are leaf shapes, flex under weight and no handrail. Not smart design. 😯
LikeLiked by 1 person