Dot`sThoughts

Cucumbers, green lettuce on left middle under cuke leaves
tomatoes, growuing real tall but not doing good.
string beans are doing great
lettuce and peppers, already eaten most of this lettuce
a repeat- can`t remove without all of them being removed.

Jac asked to see pictures of my garden-- so Jac, here they are. Tomatoes are not doing very good this year. I think we had way too much rain. I have already canned 10 pints of string beans, have two more in the frig and ate one pint of them. I use pints instead of quarts and that way they don`t spoil before I get them eaten. Have more almost ready to be picked. Have brought in one cucumber and 4 more are getting large enough now. A few of the peppers are large enough, but letting them grow larger. Had two kinds of lettuce and have eaten a lot of both kinds.

Because a couple friends asked, I am including a picture of the easy simple trellis I made for the climbing flowers by my side porch. You will see the fancy posts on my porch showing behind the trellis, plus the large flower box I made years ago sitting upon the porch railing. I also made my own railings going down the porch steps that Walt and I made years ago. The flowers in the large flower box are the same ones I keep in the house all winter. They just look much better and grow better outside. I figured that if I made a fancy trellis it would just take away from the fancy old time posts that I love so much. Over the years I have scraped them down and re-painted them about every 4 or 5 years to keep them looking ok. They were origionally on an old house and the owner was going to toss them over the dump and replacing them with a more modern porch. My son was carrying them to the dump for him with his truck and I told him I wanted them. I also had enough extra posts to put them all down the long porch front on the back porch. They needed a lot of hard work sanding before I could re-paint them, but I just liked their design.
When putting up the trellis I noticed that I needed to scrape down and re-paint the bottom board under the railing. Decided to let it wait till later even though the trellis isn`t attached to the porch, so I still could do it before the flowers got any higher. But it would be more work to get all the scraped off paint out of the flowers. Know I should have done it before I put up the trellis, but will still be time after the flowering is done and before winter gets here. So, thats another house job waiting for me to do.
The long white board that looks like it is on the top of the trellis is actualy the top of the porch railing under the flowerbox and not connected to the trellis. The top of the trellis is the slanted top thin boards that start shorter and get taller as they reach the center slat from each side. The green at the bottom is the flower stems starting to climb up the slats.

You will also see a small hanging Horse near the top right. It hangs from a Welcome sign that a neighbor gave me for Christmas a couple years ago. Winter had ruined the paint off it, so this spring I repainted it.
The yellow can is just a coffee can that I painted and filled 2/3rds full with sand for those who smoke. I decided to stop all indoor smoking when Walt started having trouble breathing and later he went on oxygen. This can meant no cigg butts for me to pick up on the ground. Now, everyone is so used to smoking outside that I still need the can for putting their cigg butts out in.

The white clapboards showing thru the step railing is the end of the small shed sitting in front of that side of the porch that I made a few years ago to hold the larger trash can and re-cyclables in - out of my house. I used clapboards so it would match the house. The green broom is one I keep on my porch. I swept off the steps and hadn`t put the broom back up on the porch yet before taking the picture.

I started making the flower trellis a few days ago, but then it got too hot to be working in the Shop. I had a couple large boards left from my last project, so I decided to cut them into two different size slat boards to make a trellis.
I had planted some climbing flowers beside my side porch and had planned on making the trellis over a week ago. But that idea got put on hold due to the wedding. Then we had thunderstorms and I don`t use my electric tools in those storms. I finally got the slat boards cut, primed and 2 layers of white paint. Then two days ago I headed to Curtis lumber for enough bolts, nuts and washers to connect the boards together. It was way to hot before I finished and then I noticed I had the last two upright slats in the opposite place from where they were meant to go. Thats what I get for wanting the tops of the slats to slope upward so the center slats were the highest.
So yesterday I went out real early and removed those two boards and re-screwed them where they belonged. Then it got so hot, I knew I better head back indoors.
So early this morning I headed off to Curtis again to buy some of those braces that are rounded in the center with a screw hole on each side. I had decided not to let the very bottom of the wood trellis touch the ground. I still had long bars left from when we sold yard ornaments and used them to put into the ground to hold the yard items upright. These were very long and from just one I was able to make 4 long posts to drive into the ground, but needed the attachment brackets to hold the bars to the back of the trellis in 4 different places. I can`t recall what these bars are really called professionally. They are like softer steel, round shaped and quite long when you buy them. It took a lot of work cutting them with a hacksaw, but once they were cut over half way I was able to bend them and finish the breaking.
Since I was able to bend the braces so they fit the bars snugly, I decided to only put them on with just the one screw and leave the other screw out. This way, I figure Ii should be able to slide the trellis up off the long bars and put it away for the winter. I figured that way the boards won`t be so apt to rot, since they don`t touch the ground to sit in any water and would be safely put awat thru the winter.
So, if all goes as I have planned maybe the trellis will last for as long as I am able to use it.
I had planted a package of mixed climbing flowers. Now i am waiting to see which kind is actually growing so good.
I also finally cut and painted the half round to fit in front of the tub. Then I cut the other piece of thin board ( like wallboard) and finished the back of the 4 shelf case I had built a couple years ago to hold canned goods. So, finally that is finished. I didn`t have enough to finish it back then. But I had enough left from making the paper basket top and the small cupboard in the bathroom. Seems there is always a use for left over pieces after a project is done.
Now, here I am with nothing planned to do next. But something always pops up that would be of help to me, so---
It might be cooler tomorrow. If it is then I need to go out and trim the grass around the flowers in the front yard and those along the front of the house where the riding tractor can`t do. My future son-in-law did the tractor grass cutting for me this last time.

This was one I liked, so thouight i would postr it here for others to read.


Shhh!
A boss wondered why one of his most valued employees had not phoned in sick one day. Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper.
"Hello."
"Is your daddy home"? he asked.
"Yes," whispered the small voice.
"May I talk with him"?
The child whispered, "No."
Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there"?
"Yes."
"May I talk with her"?
Again the small voice whispered, "No."
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, "Is anybody else there"?
"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman."
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman"?
"No, he's busy," whispered the child.
"Busy doing what"?
"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer. Growing more worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise"?
"A helicopter," answered the whispering voice.
"What is going on there"? demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.
Again, whispering, the child answered, "The search team just landed the helicopter."
Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, "What are they searching for"?
Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle, "Me."

We took off from home around 1:30 pm on Friday. We stands for my oldest daughter Linda and my middle daughter Theresa plus my youngest sister and myself. We arrived at the motel about 2 miles from my older sisters home around 5:30 - 6pm in the evening. We had stopped along the way for a bite to eat. Wearher wasn`t bad. Was a little hot out, but with the car being air-conditioned, we never had to worry about it. We only hit road construction once where we had a detour. it took us a bit out of the way, but we found our route again very easily. My daughter Theresa did all the driving and used her VW Golf which rides nice.

The motel we stayed in was nice and they also served breakfast each morning. Their breakfast consisted of your choice of food-- make your own waffles, english muffins, cinnamon or lemon filled danishes, cheerios cereal, - toppings were - butter, jam, cream cheese or maple syrup, -drinks were, apple juice, orange juice, fresh made coffee, tea bags or hot cocoa packets plus the hot water. Even a toaster to use. I would sure like to own one of their fast griddles for making waffles. You just poured in the fresh waffle mix, closed the cover over the waffle maker, took hold of the handle and turned it over once and when the light came on, it meant the waffle was cooked. Cooked real fast and tasted good. This surprised us because we figured the breakfast would just be a continental breakfast and just have a box of cereal, juice, coffee or tea and possible a Danish.
After breakfast we walked across the road to a Dollar Store and spent some money. Then we got ready and headed for the nephews Wedding. This wedding had origionally been planned for next April, but my brother-in- law ( nephew`s dad) has been quite sick so the nephew and his wife -to- be decided they wanted to rush the wedding date to be sure his dad would be able to attend their wedding. The wedding was held at 1pm at the home of this nephews brother. There was no way they could do much on such a short notice, but they had the yard all decorated real nice and a white arbor for them to stand by to say their wedding vows.

In this ceremony they did something I had never heard said before. The Minister added a part about a single rose. He told them to get 2 single roses and find one special place to lay them in their home on a small table. Then he said that anytime they had a dissagreement, before they day was over, one of them, or both of them should put a single rose in their special place to represent saying " I`m sorry". I had never before heard using the single rose for solving problems before. It might not solve the problem, but it might make for a peaceful talking out the problem between them.

After the nice wedding and the reception with way too much food as they always have at wedding receptions, their was the cake cutting and I was able to get many more pictures before the day was over. Best part for me was being able to get pictures with my older sister`s family all in one picture. Two of their sons and wifes live way off in N. Carolina which is 17 hours drive one way from where the wedding was held and even further from where I live. So, I don`t get to see them or their families very often. It has been years since Walt and I used to drive to N. Carolina to see our daughter-in-law and the grandchikdren and great grandchildren. Now that I am alone, I probably won`t be making that long trip anymore. I miss not going there to see everyone and my daughter-in-law has been on oxygen for a few years and also had triple by-pass heart surgery and i worry a lot about her.

Then after the reception it was back to the motel for the night.

Next morning we went to another store- called "Wise Buys" , where we got some more small items to bring back home. Tell you more about that in another post as this one is getting long.

They were having a large fair that day, but since my daughters car was already packed tight, we decided not to go to it. Couldn`t see getting tempted to buy something that we had no way to carry back home with us.
But we did head over to my older sisters home to visit with everyone. I left there being afraid it might be the last time I ever see my brother-in-law again. He looks so bad and is one wonderful fellow. I hate seeing someone that nice being soo bad off. I feel so bad for him and his wife ,children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is so loved by all of them. it wouldn`t be the same there without him.

We left there to head home around 2:30 and arrived home before 6pm. We all had a great time and today I am a bit tired, but so glad I went. I could keep talking about the wedding and reception, and how great it was to see them all again, but then it would take twice as long to read about it. So, this tells a brief report of my three day week-end . OH, yes, the bride and her bridal party all wore beautiful dresses and the flower girl was so cute and the gentlemen and groom also looked great.

As they say, A good time was had by all!!

Hi everyone, I just noticed that I spelled the word sugar wrong.

It reads sugatr (suga"t"r). Sorry for hitting two keys at once.

It should have read 2 cups sugar.

Wanted to correct this error before i took off for the week-end to attend a Nephews wedding.
Have a great week-end everyone. I will be back sometime Sunday, if too late than i will be posting on Monday.

"Happy 4th" to all who are celebrating it here in the good old USA.

Hope those from Canada had a great "Canada day".

Is there some special Day you are celebrating in your Country?
If so, tell us about it.

What country are you from, and what special days does your country celebrate?
Hope your Country`s special Day is also a great one when it is celebrated. .

Vickie, Here is my copy of the Pineapple ( Mexican fruit) Cake. I promised to post it for you. Is it the same one your Mom used to make ?



Pineapple (Mexican fruit) Cake

Bake 350 degrees-- 45 + minutes or (35+ minutes for glass pan)

Ingredients:

1- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple ( add juice, don`t drain)
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups sugatr
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Frosting

1 -8ounce box cream cheese ( softened)
2 cups of 10x sugar ( confectionary sugar) softened
1 stick oleo- melted
1 tsp. vanilla

Add frosting while the cake is still warm

Here it is, another family picnic. Another year has gone by. Where did it go, and what did I manage to accomplish in this last year.

Time has gone by way too fast. Hard to realize that it will be 4 long years on July 19th since I lost Walt. Four long years alone in this empty house. Where did the time go? Some days it feels like only a few months have past and other times it seems like a century since I last saw him. They always say that time heals. but they forget to say how much time it takes. I think of my Mom and wonder how she managed her last 20 years after losing her true love (my Dad). I guess making her rice for the picnic got me thinking about her. Well, her rice turned out good according to others at the picnic. I always make a small extra dish just to leave there for my oldest brother who owns the place today as he looks forward to Mom`s rice.

Even the cousins Mexican cake turned out good according to one of her step children that she raised. Today she is in a wheel chair and living in a retirement facillity. Such a wonderful lady, it is hard having her unable to keep living in her own home. Her husband died years ago. Well, she isn`t actually my cousin. My cousin died having her third child and a few years later her husband remarried a lovely woman who is so much like our cousin was that it is surprising. A couple years ago my true cousins daughter asked me if I thought her upbringing would have been much different if her mother had lived to raise her. I told her that Peg ( her step mother) had the same values and way of living that her birth mother had, so no, I don`t think she would have been raised any different. This was the only time I ever had someone marry a second time where the new wife stepped so well in the first wife`s place and was accepted so well by the first wife's family. So much alike, that instead of thinking "that's not how our cousin would have done it", we just watched her and kept thinking how she treated the 3 kids with so much love, and how she acted with the same morals and beliefs they had been receiving from their birth mother. Such a good mother and wife, and when I look back, I remember how much the birth mother had also liked this woman and I know she would have been very happy that she was there to love and raise her children. Originally this woman was just a worker in their beauty Shop, nothing more than a great friend of the wife's who worked for many years under my cousins husband`s rules at the beauty shop . At first an Aunt was caring for the 2 older kids and the new baby was staying at the home of a Nurse on days and the Dad brought the baby home evenings, nights and week-ends. He was a great dad. I was at the hosp with my Mother waiting for a bro`s wife to have her baby when my cousin died. Her husband was standing there talking to us and telling us how happy my cousin was. She had always wanted a red headed baby and felt it was impossible even thou there was red hair in the husbands grandparents day. Well she got her red headed baby and her husband was telling us how very happy she was, when suddenly it came over the loud speaker calling him back to the floor immediately. It seemed his wife was losing blood pressure fast and they couldn`t find where the blood was going. They rushed her to the operating room and started pumping blood into her as fast as they could, but she just kept losing it. An autopsy showed that the baby was so large that during normal birth, he had broken a major blood vessel ion her stomach. I had never before heard of such a thing happening. The baby weighed almost 12 pounds. Today they would have delivered it by cesarean and she would have been alive today. But that was back in 1954. I was expecting at the time of her death and they insisted on my having a cesarean that time due to my size. But mine turned out to be twins, not one baby like hers. Mt twins were born while I was living and renting this same old farm that once belonged to my grandparents- which also died before I was born. we were planning on buying the place, but changed our mind after the girls got burned. Today my oldest brother owns this home and all the farm land and that`s where we have been holding the family picnic every year since my Dad died.

My Aunt was also the Aunt who raised my cousin from birth as her birth mother had also died when she was born and the father and new baby moved in with his sister at the home place on the large farm. A few years later another brother lost his wife and also moved into the home place with his sister, brother and the brothers daughter. I never knew this Aunt`s husband, or either of my Uncles wife's as it was all before I was born. One Uncle had also lost a son in a car accident before I was born. I did have another cousin from the other brother and grew up knowing this cousins three sons. They are all gone today, only one of them was my age and one a couple years younger, the other boy was much older.

Well, this was supposed to be about the family picnic, but the picnic just brought so much back to mind. A short version of the picnic would be to say many attended. I saw some relatives for the first time in many years, others I only saw that once a year as they came from out of town just for the family picnic. A good time was had by all with one exception which was way uncalled for. But, this is getting so long that it will need to wait for another time. Plus, one sister was unable to make it as her husband isn`t doing well and his Dr said definitely "NO" he couldn`t make it that far. ( It is over a 5 hour drive from their home here). They were dearly missed.