Wednesday, October 31, 2012

I MAY BE DOWN, BUT I'M NOT OUT

Just a quick post to let everyone know that Joe and I made it through the storm unscathed except that our internet is down.  When talking to the company last night we were told that five towers were down and it would take anywhere from a week to two weeks to get them up and working.  I am using the network at work right now to make this short message.  I didn't want anyone to worry about us.

Please pray for my sister Elaine and brothers Henry and David who live in New Jersey and have had quite a bit of damage.  Also our friends the Caro family who live on Staten Island.  We have not been able to reach them, so are praying that they are OK.

When I get back online you will get a lengthy post from me.  Thanks for all your prayers thus far. 

Monday, October 29, 2012

SUNDAY AND THE STORM

I didn't get to post yesterday because I fell asleep at 9:00 p.m.  I am just so tired.  I just woke up at 4:00 a.m. and decided to post now just in case there is no electricity later.

It was a busy Sunday.  After church there was an Elders' Meeting that Joe had to go to.  While the guys are meeting the wives and kids go to Fellowship Hall and have lunch.  Pastor Justin's wife, Cherie, made lunch this time.  We had tacos, nachos and brownies.  Everything was good.  It was a LONG meeting (2 1/2 hours) and it was hard keeping the little kids occupied.  They were bored and missing their afternoon naps.  Poor little guys.

When I got home I ended up spending most of the afternoon on the phone. I called my sister to make sure she was OK.  Then I called some of the people in our Tuesday Bible Study to tell them it was cancelled for this week because of the weather.  After that I returned a bunch of calls that I hadn't had time to do earlier in the week.

Joe and I also took out all of the air conditioners, put in the storm windows and finished packing up the yard.  We are as safe as we can possibly make it.  Now it's just riding out the storm.

We got the word this afternoon that the library is closed today.  All of our public transportation has stopped running.  The city is under a state of emergency.

So far we have just had some wind and a little bit of rain.   But according to all the forecasts, by 8:00 a.m. it is going to pick up and be horrible all day and into Tuesday.  Even Wednesday (Halloween) is supposed to be nasty.  We just have to see what happens.  It's supposed to be much worse in New Jersey where my sister and two of my brothers live.  I am praying that everyone stays safe.

With a day off from work and being stuck in the house all day I have decided to attack the living room.  I got the kitchen under control (although not finished) and so have decided it is now time to move on to another room.  It is bad, folks, mostly with junk mail.  How do two people get so much junk mail?  I have to sort through things, file the ones I need to, pay the bills and toss the junk.  It will be an all day project and will keep me busy, that's for sure.

We bought a new sofa a couple of days ago, so I really have to get things cleaned up so we can get it moved in.  An extra day off is great.  And a new sofa is a great incentive.  You know there will be before and after pictures.  We want to try to paint before it comes too.  So emptying out the room will be wonderful.

I took some pictures of the sky Sunday morning.  Thought you might like to see what the underside of the tip of Sandy looks like.  More pictures to come later today.


Rolling clouds


Taken from the kitchen window around 8:30 Sunday morning.


The rain started around 3:30 Sunday afternoon, but so far has just been a drizzle with a little wind.

 
 

Sunday, October 28, 2012

LOOKING AT HALLOWEEN WHILE WAITING FOR A STORM

It's getting closer and closer.  Hurricane Sandy that is.  According to the latest weather maps, Philadelphia is right in line for the eye of the storm to hit.  It is supposed to be the worst storm to hit the city since 1938.  Now I'm scared.  I went into the back yard when I got home from work and secured everything I could.  Now it's just a matter of waiting.  We haven't heard whether we have work on Monday or not, but since the city will be in a state of emergency status I think we will be staying home.

So to get my mind off of all of this I thought I'd show you the rest of my Halloween stuff that I got out.  I have so much that I didn't even use all of it.  But here's what I have to show you.
My three candle holders.  The one on the left has a "Boo" that lights when the candle is lit.  The middle one you can see the light through the eyes and nose.  The one on the left is hard to see, but it's a black "paper bag" that has a cat face cut out of it.

This little cat and pumpkin stained glass is in the window of my back door.

I go this jack-o-lantern on a broom at a craft show years ago.  Usually it hangs on a door knob, but this year I put it on my pantry door.
The two wooden black cats and bear on a pumpkin are on the shelf in my living room.


I made this ghost needlepoint about 25 or 30 years ago.  It was one of my first Halloween decorations when I bought my house.  It has held up well over the years.  This is on the bottom door of my pantry.
  Only a few more days and Halloween will be here.  I always have fun sitting outside on Halloween handing out the treats.  But this year it is only supposed to be 40*.  I don't know how long I am going to last sitting out there.  We might have to just hand the treats out through the door this year.

Hopefully I'll be posting more Halloween pictures later this week.  And I'll keep you all updated on the storm.

Friday, October 26, 2012

FRIDAY VIEW

I had off from work today since I am working tomorrow.  Actually, the next month is going to be pretty easy.  I don't work 5 days in a row until sometime in December.  That's fine with me.  Maybe I'll be able to get some rest.

And maybe not.  I was so busy today.  I did wash, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and went grocery shopping.  I did slip in a nap though, so that wasn't too bad I guess.

Once a month we go out with our friends Walt and Carole and tonight was the night.  We went to Chick-Fil-A.  Haven't been there in awhile.  It was good to just hang out and talk.  But wouldn't you know it, we saw some friends of ours there.  Every time we go there we see someone we know.  This time it was Pastor Fran and his wife Mary.  Joe and I have known them for years and years (long before we were married), but haven't seen them in a long while.  It was great talking with them.  We are going to try to visit their church in the next few weeks and then go out for lunch to catch up. 

I talked to my sister, Elaine, tonight and she was telling me how scared everyone is in northern New Jersey with Hurricane Sandy headed their way.  I am really out of the loop.  I knew there was a hurricane and it was in the Caribbean and that it was headed for Florida.  What I didn't know was that it was headed right for Philly and we are in for a major hurricane on Monday and Tuesday with damaging winds and flooding.  So tomorrow after work Joe and I will "batten down the hatches."  Elaine reminded me that this time last year we had Hurricane Irene headed our way.  That did a lot of damage to a lot of people and property.  So now I'm getting a little nervous.

Well, on that note I will show you a Friday view for this week.  I took this picture when I was stopped for a red light on my way home from work the other day.  This is about four blocks from my house.  The trees are finally starting to turn colors.

 

MASKS

We had a great program for the kids at work today.  Ms Joan gave each of the kids a "mask", had them color it, decorate it, cut it out and then she put strings on it so they could wear them.  They turned out so cute.  Here's some pictures of them:






Joan is so clever and inventive with her ideas.  She always has something nice for the kids to do.

P.S.  If you're wondering why all the kids are wearing blue shirts, they come right from school and these are their uniforms.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

WHAT I'M READING

THE TIME KEEPER by Mitch Albom (2012)



About the book:
In Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift.  He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years.

Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mision:  a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

He returns to our world -- now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began -- and commences a journey with two unlikely partners:  one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever.  To save himself, he must save them both.  And stop the world to do so.

Told in Albom's signature spare, evocative prose, this remarkably original tale will inspire readers everywhere to reconsider their own notions of time, how they spend it and how precious it truly is.

What I say:
I usually don't like Mitch Albom's writings.  But I saw his interview on "Good Morning America" and thought I'd give it a try.  I am SO GLAD I did.  This is one of the top three books I have ever read.  Oh my how good it is.  I read it in one day.  ONE DAY!  I just could not put it down.

Very seldom do Joe and I like the same book.  We have totally different tastes.  But I told him he had to read this and he read it in one day also and LOVED IT.

So what I am saying, folks, is READ THIS BOOK.  I highly recommend it.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Kitchen Apples

I realized the other day that I was going to write a post about all the apple things I have in my kitchen but never did.  I even took pictures.  So here it is.

My friend, Marion, gave me the apple clock when she came over to see the new kitchen.  It's perfect.

I got most of my apple things from Cracker Barrel.  This cute little teapot is one of them.

So is this apple dish.  So pretty.

This little china basket holds apple salt and pepper shakers.   My sister, Elaine, gave me the teapot, bowl and these shakers.

She also gave me this beautiful apple fruit bowl.  I use it all the time.

And she gave me these apple measuring cups.  I didn't realize till now just how much apple stuff Elaine gave me.

The apple cookie jar is from my brother David and his wife Nadja.  It is actually the first apple piece I got.                           
 I also have apple kitchen towels, and pot holders.  Now I just need the curtains!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Saturday Garden

How long has it been since I did a gardening post?  Much too long I am sure.  I went out to put bird seed in our new bird feeder.  We got it at Lowe's last week.  It's all recycled material (which I like) and much bigger and sturdier than the one we had before.


It was such a beautiful day.  The temperatures were up in the 70s and the sun was shining.  I saw there is still a lot to do in the yard before cold weather hits, so hopefully I can work on that later this week.  But I wanted to take some pictures to show you what is left out there.

The impatients are still blooming.  So pretty.



I had three coleus plants.  One of them died in the hot summer we had.  But these two are doing beautifully.



And roses....  Every bush has buds or flowers.  In October!




Yes, just as my garden flag says, it's a fabulous fall!



Friday, October 19, 2012

FRIDAY VIEW

Another Friday at the Fishtown Branch.  And actually today was the busiest day I've ever had there.  The first hour I was on the desk I didn't check one person in or out and did only one new library card.  The second hour (12 noon) was a little busier but not bad.  But my third hour at 3 p.m. I ran myself ragged with returns, checkouts, questions, cards, phone.  Wow!  I didn't know it could be that busy in that little branch.

Now that Sonic is back you know I stopped for my Friday lemon slush.  I know, I've been there three times in the last two weeks.  I should buy stock in the company.

There's so much going on tomorrow.  So many things I could do.  But I think I'd better just stay home and clean the living room.  It is a mess!  I have been so sick the last two weekends and spent the entire time in bed.  So nothing has gotten done.  I need to get moving on stuff.  The holidays are coming!  And Sunday is my week to work overtime.

I finally decorated the front window tonight.  I have the clings up and the orange lights lit.  But now I'm thinking about changing it.  What to do, what to do.  Well, it is staying as it is tonight.  I'll think about it as I'm cleaning up tomorrow.

For your Friday view, I now have some more decorations in the kitchen.  I told you I love scarecrows.  Here's another one along with a pumpkin that says "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow".  I got that pumpkin last year and I love it.  And yes, I have the flowers in an old coke bottle.


Till later.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

RUNNING

Ever have a day when you find yourself just running from one thing to another?  Well, that was today.  I should have known it would be that way when I overslept by a half-hour.  I was five minutes late for work.

At first the day seemed to be going good.  I got so much done in the hour before we opened.  And when we did open it was slow.  But all of a sudden everyone decided to come in.  And we were busy with phones and people all day.

At lunch time I ran to Rite Aid.  I hadn't had time to pack lunch and I wanted to get a cereal bowl.  Of course while I was there I wanted to look at the 50% off autumn items.  I saw this beautiful glass pumpkin.  I couldn't find a price on it and it was the only one there.  I took it up to the front and asked how much it was.  It was only $4 so I got it.  So very pretty.  Now to find the perfect place to put it.

 Our gardener came over while I was at work.  He did a final cut on the grass before the winter, cut down a couple of weed trees and trimmed back the hydrangea.  It looks nice all ready for winter.  I hate it that there's no color though.  My mums didn't come back this year.  I guess I'm going to buy some more and try again.

I stopped at Wawa on the way home and got a hoagie for Joe and a turkey bowl for me for dinner.  It was good -- tasted just like Thanksgiving.  It has mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, gravy and cranberries.  Yum.  What a treat!

I laid down after dinner for a couple of minutes and fell asleep for two hours.  I must really be tired.  So as soon as the wash is done I'm going to go to bed.  See everyone tomorrow.



 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

BABIES

Look who came to visit us at the library today!
Photo: Staff welcomes 2 new patrons on Library Snapshot Day.... 

My boss Jerry's daughter and her 2 1/2 month old twins Keegan and Quinn.  I got to hold Keegan.  He is 10 lbs. and Quinn is 9 lbs.  She looks much smaller than Keegan but Jackie says she eats as much as he does and is keeping right up with him.  She's just going to be a little girl I guess.  They are so cute and sweet.  I just love holding babies.

In the picture, left to right is Sheila (our Children's Librarian), Diane, me and Joan (our after school leader).  Then of course in the front is Keegan, Jackie and Quinn.

Busy

Such a busy day yesterday.  So much going on at work.  I never stopped the whole day.  And tomorrow will be worse since Marquita is not coming in and Bob has to work at the McPherson Square Branch, so it's just Diane and me.  When there are just two people you are on and off the desk every hour and there is no time to get anything done.  You just get started on something and you have to stop and go on the desk.

After work I made dinner and then we headed to the hospital to see Mary Ann.  I think I must live in that place!


Joe noticed that besides the new part of the building that has just been finished, there is more construction starting.  This place is huge now and it's getting even bigger.  It's going to be a world-class hospital and I'm so happy all my doctors are connected with it.  They even changed the lobby area when you first go into the hospital.  It now has new furniture, a fireplace and a water wall.  Nice.

Mary Ann is doing OK.  All her tests came out fine.  The doctors think her pain may be muscular, but I think they really don't know what is going on.  She is supposed to be released today.

On the way home we stopped at Sonic and got a lemon slush for me and a diet Dr. Pepper for Joe.  Yes, we are certainly enjoying our Sonic being there again.  As I pulled out I noticed that the low tire pressure light was on.  We pulled into a gas station and Joe put air in the tire we thought it was, but the light did not go out.

So this morning I took the car to our mechanic.  It turned out to be that all four tires were low on air probably because of the change in temperature in our weather.  So they fixed it for me, but didn't charge me anything.  That was so nice of them.

Because I was over at the garage we had to cancel Bible Study this morning.  I don't like doing that, but since Joe isn't feeling all that well, it was probably for the best.

I had a chance to put out some of my Halloween decorations.  Here are my Cherished Teddies.

 
 Joe and I both love teddy bears.  We even had them as the cake topper on our wedding cake.  I have so many Cherished Teddies but instead of having them all out all the time, I switch them out with the months or season.  They are so cute.

I also put up a sparkling jack-o-lantern on the front door.


I think you can see in the picture how it's sparkling in the sun.  I saw this at Target a couple of weeks ago and had to have it.  It was only $3 so how could I resist?  I decorate for Halloween with pumpkins and black cats -- no witches, ghouls, ghosts, devils, etc.  And this was cute too.

Tonight when I get home from work we will (finally) take the air conditioner out and I can decorate the front window.  Then I'll take a picture of that for you.  Things are coming along.

I've got to get off of here and eat something before I go to work.  My late night tonight-- I'll be getting home around 8:30 p.m. so if I don't eat now, I'll be starving.  Enjoy your day everyone.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

MY SUNDAY IN PICTURES

Hey, what happened?  I had over 10,000 views of my blog and now the counter says 4.  I have to figure this one out.

I got up to a beautiful sunrise this morning.  Such a pretty day.  It was in the 70s.  I didn't even have to wear a jacket.  So nice.


 
Even though I wasn't feeling 100% I went to church this morning.  My pastor and one of the elders prayed with me.  So far today my pressure has stayed down and I've been feeling tired, but better.

We were there a long time after church.  Joe always ends up talking to everyone and we are always the last ones out.  I call him "the politician."  Ha, ha.


 
After church Joe took me to Sonic for lunch.  He got a couple of Chicago hot dogs and some onion rings.  I got chicken tenders with honey mustard, and of course tater tots and a lemon slush.  I kept thanking Joe for lunch.  It was so good.  And so wonderful that our local Sonic is reopened.

Then we ran over to Lowe's because the sprayer on our kitchen sink broke.  Joe wanted to get a part to repair it.  While we were there I saw they have all their Christmas stuff out.  Christmas already?  But looking at all the stuff I felt really happy.  I love Christmas!


They had all the inflatables on the top shelf and lots of different Christmas trees all lit up on the floor.  I took a picture of the trees too, but it didn't turn out.

Both Joe and I took a nap this afternoon.  There's nothing like a Sunday nap.

Joe's step-mom Mary Ann has been admitted to the hospital.  They are doing a stress test on her tomorrow.  The doctors think the stent that was put in at Cooper Hospital may have slipped or collapsed and she may need another one.  The stress test is supposed to tell them what is going on.  We are going to try to go see her tomorrow after work.

As I was making dinner I looked out the back door and there was a beautiful sunset.
 
 I'm so glad to be feeling better.  I hope this keeps up.  Back to work tomorrow.  I know it's going to be a busy week.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

IT'S SATURDAY

I had great plans for today, but none of them got done.  I wasn't feeling so great again.  My blood pressure was up again.  I made the mistake of posting it on facebook and my brother Michael told me to go to the Emergency Room immediately because he had a friend who had the same thing and he needed a pacemaker.  Even though I know there is nothing wrong with my heart he really scared me.  And then others started commenting.  So I ended up erasing the whole post.  Really!  How to calm someone down, huh?

I did call my doctor and even though he was at a party he called me back.  He said that if it kept going up higher to go to the Emergency Room, but otherwise he would see me next week.  He also said that the home cuff I was using isn't always accurate and to try to find another one in the pharmacy to compare it with.  At home my pressure was 170/99 and in the pharmacy it was 150/77.  Still high, but not like I was about to have a stroke.  Since I've eaten dinner it has gone down even more.  I'm still making an appointment to see him on Monday, but I'm not so terrified any more.

Speaking of dinner, I had some salmon left over from last night and decided to make a salad.  It was my own creation and was it ever good!  I tore up lettuce and then topped it with diced celery, tomato and carrots and slices of the salmon.  Then I hard-boiled a couple of eggs, quartered them, and put them on the plate also.  I sort of apologized when I put the dish in front of Joe because it didn't look as if it was very much, but it was really filling.  In fact there was so much I couldn't finish my plate and handed it over to Joe.  He, of course, finished it off for me.  Wouldn't want to waste it.  Ha, ha.

We got a call from my mother-in-law tonight that she was feeling bad again and wanted me to drive her to the Emergency Room.  I told her I wasn't feeling good and I couldn't do it.  So she called 911 and she is back in the hospital again.  Don't know if she had another heart attack or what.  We will have to check on her tomorrow.

My wonderful husband scrubbed the kitchen floor for me today.  It is looking wonderful.  I was very bad about doing it, so he stepped in.  What a difference a little soap, water, and elbow grease makes.  Looking good!

Got a call from my girlfriend, Debbie, that the Sonic in our neighborhood has reopened.  I am so excited about that.  Tater tots and lemon slushes for everyone!  Oops.  Sorry, I got a little carried away there.  But I am very happy because you know me and my lemon slush.  I used to stop every Friday night after work for my slush and I can do that again.  Hooray!  Good news!

Jenny just jumped up on the sofa to cuddle with me.  She's such a good girl.  Well.... sometimes anyway.  After I took this picture she started purring and purring.


Guess I'll end for tonight.  Have a good one.

Friday, October 12, 2012

A FISHTOWN FRIDAY AND A FRIDAY VIEW

It was back to Fridays at the Fishtown Community Branch for the fall/winter/spring season.  For those who don't know Fishtown is the sister branch to my home library the Richmond Branch.  During the fall, winter and spring Richmond is closed on Fridays and open on Saturdays.  Fishtown is always a Monday through Friday branch.  So on Fridays some of us from Richmond work at Fishtown and some of us work at our own branch on Saturdays.  The Fishtown people -- some work at their own branch on Friday and the others work at Richmond on Saturday.  Confusing, right?  In any case, both branches are covered for Friday and Saturday.

Fishtown is a very small branch.  The whole thing could fit into Richmond with room left over.  But the customers and people who work there are so nice.  And it's not busy on Fridays, so it's like having a little vacation.

I went in this morning with my blood pressure up again.  What's with this?  It wasn't real high, so I just decided to go to work.  I felt bad this morning, but as the day went on I felt better and better.  I'm sure my pressure must have gone down even though I wasn't able to take it.  I could tell just by the way I was feeling.  Most of the afternoon I had nothing to do.  I shelved books (that took all of 10 minutes) and asked around, but no one had anything for me to do.  So I ended up sitting on one of the computers for a few hours looking at things and reading blogs.  But you know, that was just what I needed to do in order to feel better.

Tonight I made poached salmon, potato salad and squash and onions for dinner.  It was a squash I had never tried before.  I don't even know what it is called.  I saw it at the farm last week and got it.  It is yellow at one end and green at the other.  Pretty looking and oh so sweet to eat.  It was wonderful.  I am hoping they have it there again tomorrow when we go.

Joe went with me to work last night after dinner and then after work we went to Shop Rite.  I just looked at the receipt and we saved $12.62 in on sale items and coupons.  Really good!  We hadn't been food shopping in a couple of weeks and we still kept our bill to under $70.  So proud of myself.

For the Friday View this week I was debating about several different photos, but decided to show you this one.  I bought these cute cloth fall placemats in Virginia last year.  I found them at K-Mart of all places.  I used them last year, found them in the closet this year and put them out.  I love them.


Have a nice weekend everyone.

A QUICK POST ABOUT MY DOCTOR VISIT

I'm getting ready for work in a few minutes, so this will be a quick post.  Just wanted to let you all know how I made out at the doctor's yesterday morning.  Yes, I was going to post last night, but fell right to sleep.  I was really tired.  (Still am for that matter.)

I went because of my high blood pressure that I've been having all week.  Of course when I went in and the nurse took my pressure it was 120/70.  Yeah, that's how it goes.  The doctor said he couldn't treat me for something that I no longer had.  But then he started asking me questions about did I ever have chest pains (yes), shortness of breath (yes), pain in my left arm and neck (yes), nausea (yes).  So he insisted on giving me an EKG.

The girl that did the EKG was so nice and pleasant.  I had no idea that in one of the back rooms they have a whole lab set up.  Cool.
Well, the EKG came back "abnormal".  I could tell something was wrong when she took it twice and then said, "Stay here and I'll show it to the doctor."

He came back in, told me it was abnormal, but hadn't changed any from the one I had two years ago.  It had picked up my heart murmur which I've had since I was a baby.  So he said my medication was working, not to worry, just follow up with my heart specialist in February (my next scheduled visit) and if the blood pressure went up again, to call him.

In a way I felt like it was a wasted visit, but in another way I was pleased that I have a doctor that listens to me and is on the ball enough to pick up on things and order immediate tests.  

A lot of the symptoms that appear to be "heart attack related" are actually left from when I had my stomach surgery.  I now have gas pockets in my chest that mimic heart attacks.  Not fun, but at least I know what they are, am able to take something to break up the gas, and they go away.

Enough of this medical post.  I am off to get ready for work.  I am working today at the Fishtown Branch.  This is the first week I am there in this new season.  Wonder how it's going to be.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

WHAT I'M READING

I AM HUTTERITE by Mary-Ann Kirkby (2010)


About the book:
As a 10-year-old girl, the only life Ann-Marie Dornn had known was that lived within the boundaries of a secluded but vibrant Hutterite community in southern Manitoba, Canada.  Everything was shared -- food, property... and private lives.  When political tensions became unbearable, Ann-Marie's parents felt they had no choice but to leave the only way of life they had ever known.

Before she left the colony, Ann-Marie (now Mary-Ann Kirkby) had never tasted macaroni and cheese or ridden a bike.  She had never heard of Walt Disney or rock-and-roll.  She was forced to reinvent herself, denying her heritage to fit in with her peers.  Her new life was all about fitting in, but she would never forget the thread that bound her to a childhood that had shaped the essence of who she is.

With great humor and raw honesty, Kirkby describes life on the Hutterite colony, adapting to pop culture, and her family's deep sense of loss for their community.  It is a story about retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us.

My thoughts:
Joe and I first became interested in the Hutterites when we watched the National Geographic show "American Colony:  The Hutterites".  Although the show became controversial, we did learn a lot about this group.  Joe started reading books about them to discover just what they believed and how they lived.  I saw a review of this book online and ordered it from the library for Joe.  When he was finished, I started reading it and couldn't put it down.  Both of us loved this book.

Mary-Ann Kirkby is so honest and open about her life.  Although the Hutterite life wasn't perfect by any means, to a child it was idyllic.  Their life is structured.  Things are done in a certain way at a certain time.  As a commune or colony everyone is supportive of everyone else.  Things are done in groups.  When the family left the colony and went on their own, they really didn't know how to cope in the outside world.

What an interesting, well-written book.  I would love to find another book as good as this one about other anabaptist communities.  I am Amish?  I am Mennonite?  I am Baptist?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

APPLE CAKE

I took my apple cake to church today for Bible study and it was a big hit.  People were going back for seconds which hardly ever happens and Dottie even cut herself a slice to take home with her.  It was good (if I do say so myself).  I took slices in for the people at work and everyone loved it.

I still wasn't feeling well today so I came home from work 2 hours early.  I was on the front desk at 5 p.m. and felt so bad that I was sitting there laying my head on the desk when there was no one waiting to get checked in or out.  When I got home I took my blood pressure and it was 152/77.  Not real high, but enough to make me feel bad.  After dinner I took it again and it was down to 129/69.  And I was feeling so much better.  Hopefully it will stay down now and I can get back to doing things around here.

Anyway, the apple cake was so good that I wanted to give you the recipe.  I got it from the October issue of Ladies' Home Journal, but I changed it a bit so this is my version, not theirs.

APPLE CAKE
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (I used margarine)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3 large or 4 medium apples, peeled and cut into a 1/2-inch dice (I used Gala, but the recipe says to use Mutsus, Winesaps, Empires or Granny Smith)
Cinnamon sugar

1.  Heat oven to 350*F.  Grease a bundt pan.  Sprinkle bottom with cinnamon sugar and set aside.

2.  In a bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside.  In an electric mixer cream together butter, oil, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Working in two batches, incorporate dry ingredients into butter mixture.  Fold in apples.

3.  Spoon batter into the prepared pan.  Bake until top is golden and a tester inserted in cake's highest point comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

4.  Allow cake to cool in pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a plate.  Sprinkle top with more cinnamon sugar.  Allow to cool completely.

I meant to take a picture of it to show you, but it was gone before I got to do that.  It was such a big hit that I know I will be making it again soon and I will take a picture then.  It was really easy to make.  I hope you try it.

Monday, October 8, 2012

COLUMBUS DAY

It was really nice having today off from work for the holiday.  Especially since I wasn't feeling well.  My blood pressure was up and I did everything I could think of but couldn't get it down.  It has given me quite a headache.

I felt better later (but still with the headache) so I made a chicken pie for dinner from my new Amish cookbook.  It turned out really good, except I wish I had thickened the gravy a little more.  Next time I will put more flour in than the recipe calls for.  Joe really liked it and told me it was a "keeper".  I didn't have a pie crust in the freezer, so Joe took a cup of Bisquick and 1/3 cup of milk and made a delicious crust.  Oh, my it was nice.  More like a biscuit crust, but very thin.  I do like having a baker/cook as my husband.  He knows so many tricks in the kitchen that I don't.

Now I am waiting for an apple cake to come out of the oven.  It has about 25 minutes to go.  It is for our Bible study tomorrow.  Another new recipe that I found in the Ladies' Home Journal.  Yes, the Bible study people are my guinea pigs for new recipes.  But then again, they will eat just about anything.

Since I slept most of the day you wouldn't think I would be tired, but I am.  There is so much to do around the house and I've done nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  I must get something done this week.  Halloween is coming and I have nothing decorated!  And I have so many decorations to put out.  Oh well, as Scarlet O'Hara said, "Tomorrow is another day."

Saturday, October 6, 2012

JONAH

Since I was working today, yesterday was my day off from work.  Remember a couple of weeks ago I was taking Joe to Sight and Sound Theater as my gift to him for our anniversary and he was too sick to go?  Well yesterday was the day I had switched the tickets for.

The show started at 4:15 p.m.  We left early to give ourselves plenty of time and it was a good thing we did.  Our hour and a half drive turned into almost three hours because for miles and miles on several different roads it was bumper to bumper traffic.  It seems there is a major road repair project going on in Montgomery, Chester and Lancaster counties.  The roads will be nice when they are finished, but what a mess now!  We left at 1:00 p.m. and got to the theater at 3:50 p.m.  So much for looking around before the show.

But sitting on the road not moving for minutes at a time gave us time to take some really nice pictures.  It is so beautiful in Lancaster County.






We weren't supposed to take pictures in the theater, but I sneaked this one in.  It's a little dark because I didn't use a flash, but I think you can see it.


The play was wonderful!  I had seen it with my sister in August and knew it would be good.  But even though I knew what was coming next, it was just as great.  Joe really enjoyed it.

At intermission Joe went to the Men's Room and I wandered around the lobby taking pictures.  Most of them didn't turn out real well, but I think this one of an angel statue was good.

When we got to the parking lot the sun was just setting.

We went to Sonic for dinner.  Our Sonic shut down a year ago and I have been dying for tater tots and a lemon slush.  I could eat them every day I love them so much.  It was such a treat! 

We didn't get home till about 10:00 p.m. and I had to get up for work this morning.  You know I didn't get much sleep, but I got through the day.  It was well worth it.  We had such a marvelous time.