THIS & THAT

à bientôt

2011-10-15T10:55:00.000-05:00

Hard frost is coming.

Last blooms of the season. See you later lovelies, your long rest is near.

What Feeds the Soul

2011-10-12T20:34:00.000-05:00

It rained today. It's been two months almost to the day since rain has touched my little bit of parched earth. It's not enough, but it will do. The sound of rain to ears which have sought it is like a big warm hug from someone you love. It made my day.

So that being the case, I got busy with food. A day like this sparks the instinct to cook and bake, for me anyway. I couldn't find a happier task on a rainy day. I strew flour over several surfaces, peeled, cored and mixed. Kneaded, simmered and tasted my way through this day. It was wonderful, this day of the simple pleasure of food preparation. There was not a ladder, paint brush or manure fork to be seen!

Is there anything more satisfying to the senses than a freshly baked apple pie just out of the oven? The aroma alone is worth the effort involved, but fortunately I get to eat it and not just smell the goodness.

Fresh bread awaiting dinner, how good is that.

Chicken noodle soup. About as fine a way to end the day as I can think of. I do enjoy a good soup.

I am nearly done with the strenuous task of house painting. This, along with my horse and barn duties has kept me busy and tired. I'm glad I tackled it, but I will be very happy to see the end of this for the season. I'm not what I used to be, but I'm still in the game and thankful for it.

I hope you all are well and life is being kind.

The 99 Percent

2011-10-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. ~Mohandas Gandhi

#OccupyWallStreet First Official Statement — unclear this is not | Coffee Party

Give Me Comfort

2011-09-30T13:55:00.002-05:00

My day of food freedom and peach cobbler.

I have one day per week in which there are no restrictions on food. Refined flour is one of the taboo items, so today I made a cobbler with unbleached all-purpose flour, instead of whole wheat flour. I had a lot of peaches and have been baking with whole wheat flour, but it is not the same, so today, the real deal!

I am also excited to have asparagus & gruyere ravioli for dinner, with a little flank steak on the side. The ravioli is the star of the meal! I know, it's pathetic, but what can I say? How 'bout drizzled in sage and garlic butter with a little grated pecorino on top. I've been dreaming of cheese.

That's it, that's all. Back to work.

'Nuff Said

2011-09-29T09:38:00.000-05:00

I will accept corporations as human beings after Texas executes one.

A Place of Respite

2011-09-28T08:00:00.003-05:00

Since I have lived here, my little piece of earth has been a resting place for these migrating birds. They come by the thousands, arriving in a swirl of calling and whooshing, they descent upon the trees to rest and refuel. Last evenings menu was a new hatching of gnats.

It gives me a sense of importance to be the place they come to year after year for their rest. I know it is silly, I have nothing to do with it, but I do enjoy having the place they seek. The noise is unbelievable. They call en masse and when they swoop it sounds like large waves breaking.

The birds spent about three hours among my trees and then, in an instant, they set to the sky in a flurry of wings and noise, heading south and someplace else to rest and refuel as they undertake their long journey to milder climate. Good journey, noisy ones.

Changing

2011-09-27T10:23:00.000-05:00

There is beauty before we become the frozen land. The final hurrah before the white, smothering blanket lay itself over our countryside, creating a different and not entirely appreciated beauty of its own.

The leaves are changing hue and the roses are still in full glory. Everything else has gone to seed, knowing the days are short and the frost is near. Most of my life has been lived in this cycle, but I never grow tired of it, of the blazing colors of autumn, the smell of wood smoke in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot. Every year I lay my face against the soft, wooly neck of my beautiful horses, starting to resemble wooly mammoths, smelling their wonderful horse smell and know it is just around the corner. The long, big freeze.

Every single time, I feel a sense of anticipation and an almost childish glee with the coming of the first snowfall. It covers the ugly brown earth that is November in this place, it is the signal that we will now slow down and wait. We will eat chili and soup. There will be bread in the oven and cookies on the platter. There will also be that dreadful winter weight, but as I age, I care about that less and less. I will have my bread and cookies, I will light the fire and I will wait for spring.

But now, we have our beautiful autumn, the best time of the year in this land. It is a fleeting moment, one we grab and hold onto, pretending it will last longer than it ever does. This is how we survive.

What It Has Come To

2011-09-24T15:09:00.002-05:00

Can you hear me sigh? I am. And I am also having a very fine whine. The only kind of wine I will be having for a while. It seems I am polluted. Polluted and in need of detoxification. Can you imagine?

I have had muscle soreness for years, soreness which I have attributed to the work I do. Over the past couple of years I have added in stiffness. Big time. The past six months it all got together and had a party and I guess I was the guest of honor. Yippee.

Traditional medicine has not been too interested in my plight. Strange how doctors aren't terribly interested in an aging woman's maladies. The only thing offered is pharmaceuticals. I am not interested in creating more problems than I already have, so that has been a big 'no thanks'.

I will come clean, pun intended, to the fact that I have been unwell for some time. I have had days where I can barely walk, which is not a good thing when you have twenty-four horses to care for. On the better days I have tried to sneak in some work, like painting a house. Talk about high-hopes liberally sprinkled with denial. I am slow in coming to conclusions, but I eventually figured out this is not normal. And it is getting worse.

Which leads me to my day yesterday. A friend referred me to a Naturopathic Doctor her daughter used. The daughter had a terrible car accident which left her living with constant pain and headaches. Traditional medicine was not able to help, so in a last ditch effort, after years of failed treatment, she tried this doctor. She got her life back, which is what I am hoping will be my result, as well.

He used an electromagnetic machine on acupuncture pressure points to determine where my body was compromised. My connective tissues showed through the roof, which I am sadly aware of, but this is a symptom and not the cause. My liver and lymph nodes, the cleaners, are not doing their housekeeping duties as well as they should, so I am polluted. He said I probably have 40 year-old pollution. He asked if I ever worked in an industry with toxins. No, I just grew up in a period in America where we discovered the marvels of chemicals. Have a little DDT with your meatloaf?

I have to take all of that stuff to clear out the junk. The diet won't make any difference for me, as I eat whole foods anyway, but I cannot have cheese, sour cream or alcohol. Taking away my wine is pushing it, but I will behave and do what I am told. I am tired of feeling ancient.

Anyway......I may actually be back to normal. I may have the energy to intermingle on the internets. Perhaps you will hear me say, I'm back, baby! Well, at least hi.

I think I have to go swallow some stuff now.

Greatness

2011-09-22T11:04:00.000-05:00

There are currently, according to the 2010 US census, one in seven people living in poverty in the United States of America. When one considers how low the bar is set for determining poverty, $21, 954 for a family of four, I believe it is fair to say there are more than that living a subsistent life.

One half of one percent control forty-six percent of all wealth, while millions of people slip into poverty. The images are different, but the result is the same.

We cannot claim to be a great nation whilst we drive so many of our population to the brink of hopelessness. We have become insulated and inoculated to the needs and suffering of others as we march headlong into this unthinkable society of freedom and individuality. It never existed. It is a myth that has been repeated so many times it has become part of our cultural lore. The chasm separating myth from reality seems so great at this time in our tumultuous history, I wonder if we will be able to breach it.

This has been on my mind. I don't understand people without conscience.

Beautiful Photos (Not Mine!)

2011-09-21T16:18:00.000-05:00

My friend, Shelley, is a professional photographer and she also attended the preview of Cavalia yesterday. She has the skills to capture what I do not. I thought anyone looking here should have the opportunity to see Shelley's photos. They will give you a better feel for what the show is like.

Shelley's Blog

Cavalia!

2011-09-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

You know, it really is good to have friends in high places.

I had the great luck of attending a media preview of Cavalia yesterday. My friend, Jeni, is one of the team marketing Cavalia in Minnesota and she invited me because I have a blog, a boatload of horses and I sometime actually write about them. I always knew those beasties would come in handy.....

This is a visually stunning performance and one my paltry attempts at photographing cannot come anywhere close to capturing. We got a forty-five minute preview of the two hour show and the only word which comes to mind is "wow". The people and horses involved in the production are superior in training and abilities. The creator of this production is Normand Latourelle, the co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, which gives you an idea of the quality and scope of this show. Magnificent horses meet beauty in acrobatic motion wrapped in a surreal setting.

You will forgive me for the repeated photos of the greys, but I am a sucker for a beautiful face and therefore focused in on one that has a certain something I am familiar with!

Either these are very good actors, or everyone, horses and humans, like their job. There was a jubilance that was contagious throughout the performance. It almost made me want to join the circus! But then, I realize I already have a life which often resembles a three-ring circus, so I guess I'll stay here.

Chevaux, Mesdames et Messieurs, vous etes magnifiques!

Parsley, Caterpillars & Paint

2011-09-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

Parsley Caterpillar

We had a frost overnight. It's early, even for Minnesota, to have the tender plants killed off. I was busy picking my herbs yesterday and bringing in the last of the tomatoes, while covering the eggplant which is still so robust. I think this caterpillar only consumes parsley, at least this is the only place I see it. It is an amazing looking creature and very slow moving. Life must hard on those which are specific to one food plant.

I have got myself into a mess, as I have decided to paint not only the garage, but what we call the 'round end' of the house. I sprayed it to remove the dirt that only country life can cause, which took lots of paint off. Now I am in the soup, so to speak. My window of opportunity is narrow, so I must be diligent and not allow for distraction. Like this.

Winter is coming and I will have plenty of time to spend on the computer. For now I am starting my new career as a house painter. Wish me luck.

And the Sun Revolves Around the Earth

2011-09-07T22:01:00.001-05:00

I have never, in my memory, watched a Republican debate. I did tonight. Oh my eyes, my burning eyes.

I came away with a firm understanding, based on the studies I have read, which say we are wired, at birth, in how we view society and our role in it. Now I understand, I comprehend, at a visceral level, that there are people born to swallow bullshit.

Morning Light

2011-09-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

It is 45 degrees F this morning. The sun is bright and there is fog in the air. How swiftly our fortunes change. This change is most welcome, at least in my opinion.

This is the project of the moment. I started in the spring of '10, but after a good start, the weather turned wet, hot and humid. The fall brought nice weather, but it also brought my flea infestation, followed by illness (which I attribute to the chemicals used to kill the fleas).

We had a terrible spring and summer this year, so nothing has been accomplished this season, until now. You can see how wet and humid it has been by the weeds that have overtaken the gravel and the cement apron. What a mess.

If the weather we experienced this past year is a preview of the things to come due to climate change, I do not know how I will handle it. I am unable to adapt to tropical humidity, I really am. As much as I tire of winter and as expensive heating the house is during that season, I know how to handle that type of weather and can function, even in the -30 F temperatures. I don't like it, but I can deal with it. I cannot deal with 100+ and dew points in the 80's. I wilt.

I know I am MIA these days. I have spent more time and effort in my flesh & blood life lately, finding it leaves me without much time for anything else. I also do not have much to say. I guess I have said all there is in my head and now I am empty. I feel the same way when I visit you all. I am without words. Perhaps it will change, but I don't know.

Work is calling my name and I must answer. Be well, enjoy the Labor Day and perhaps give a thought as to why it exists.

1984

2011-08-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

Ohio Congressman Has Cops Confiscate Cameras At Town Hall Meeting

Repentance

2011-08-24T14:05:00.001-05:00

......for the prior photo.

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows follow behind you." ~ Maori Proverb

Seriously

2011-08-23T08:58:00.000-05:00

The Roots of Violence
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without conscience,
Knowledge without character,
Commerce without morality,
Science without humanity,
Worship without sacrifice,
Politics without principles.

~Mohandas Gandhi

Indeed

2011-08-10T11:08:00.000-05:00

"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."

~ William Gibson

Storms & Spilt Water

2011-08-02T16:44:00.001-05:00

We have had quite the summer. As you know, I live in a state with weather extremes and extreme weather. This is the kind of place where climate change is more easily evidenced. I am, like so many of my fellow Minnesotans, a weather geek. I am also in many ways still old school, meaning I use a paper calendar. That calendar is my record for the year, what appointments I had, who visited, when I vaccinated & wormed the horses and what the weather was doing.

Because of this, I have a long record of our Minnesota weather and I can tell you it is changing. The winters are not as cold, but the snow has been falling earlier, we have more frequent snow storms and we have multiple melt/freeze cycles. Ice has become a serious problem on my farm. Our summers are very hot and humid, with big storms carrying lots of rain. Yes, all of this has happened in our weather over the decades, but this is becoming standard. With that said, we had a storm yesterday that roared through and dumped a lot of rain, at one point it was raining horizontally. We are all tired of the humidity, the heat and the storms. I am thinking it may be how it will be and then some.

That afternoon I spilled water onto my keyboard, making it behave like a crazy thing. I was unable to write anything until this afternoon, after I replaced it. I was in a serious state of withdrawal! As you can see, I have a desktop Mac, which I bought four years ago. My how fast technology changes, as now a Mac is almost an anachronism as it is replaced by all of the mobil technology. This is my original keyboard, the one that behaved badly simply because I spilled water on it.

This is the new, slim version. And yes, I am still connected by wire. I read the reviews on the wireless keyboard and they were more so-so, to unflattering, than good. I am connected to the desk anyway, so I don't see why I should care about a wireless keyboard. Obviously, I am not a techno.

Technology moves too fast for me and I found it easiest to let most of it go over my head. I don't know what I will do when the time comes where I will be forced to own a smart phone. Just the very name of it gives me the willies. I don't want a phone that is smart and will only succeed in making me feel dumb.

There is my story, a weather geek who uses a paper calendar and a wired computer. Please don't think any less of me, it is beyond my control.

That Giant Sucking Sound

2011-08-01T11:14:00.002-05:00

.....is a trillion dollars immediately pulled from an economy which has fallen flat on its' face and cannot get up.

We are, I fear, in for a bumpy ride. Many of us will not survive the trip. I believe it would be in our own best interest if we stopped falling for the "how large do we want government to be" false argument and instead focus on the real question at hand: what type of society do we want to live in? Forget the misleading rhetoric and get down to brass tacks. Are we ready to enter into a system of government which is designed to support an oligarchy? Because this is where we are swiftly heading.

We should be discussing an infusion of a trillion dollars into our economy; funding infrastructure which is crumbling, updating an outdated rail system, funding clean energy development. We should be discussing tariffs and tax law changes which would bring manufacturing back. There is much we should be doing, but instead we are watching as the bandits prepare to take the last of what we have to give before they kick us over the precipice.

To the Point

2011-07-31T08:21:00.001-05:00

"Seems to me the GOP seeks a banana republic: a toxic blend of right-wing populism, anti-intellectualism, debt defaults, and an end to the ladder of economic opportunity. They would divide us into a few Haves and a lot of Have-Nots. And they would slowly crush the heart of progressive America—the rising middle class created by Democratic economic policies of education and empowerment. All while preserving, protecting, and defending a tiny oligarchy of millionaires and billionaires."
~ Paul Begala

When You Have a Minute

2011-07-25T09:09:00.002-05:00

I know that the people who generally comment here know all or most of the information contained in this article, but it is worth the read and perhaps someone will read it who is not fully informed on the unjust tax policies of the US. It is pertinent, considering the constant refrain of "job creators". It is long, but if you have the time, worth reading, if only to reinforce what you already know to be true.

David Cay Johnston Article

A Bird on the Wire

2011-07-23T09:54:00.001-05:00

My reasoned self says "You must not ask for so much." But my inner self from deep in the core says "Hey, why not ask for more?" You've gotta love Leonard Cohen.

It has been a hot, wet summer. Minnesota has been like a rain forest jungle, something we of the northland are not suited to handle. We know parkas and Sorel boots. So I am like that bird on the wire.

I still have nothing to offer. I am in hate of the direction we have taken in this once fair land. I am in sadness that violence has struck Norway. I wish the people of that good country a healing peace and I offer my deepest sympathy.

Time has passed on the farm, summer is midway through and as it has so far played out, I will merrily kick it in the pants on its way out to fall. So, here are some images to affirm that I and mine are still alive and as well as is possible. The heat is on, the straits are dire, but the show goes on. I hope all is well out there.

Lost

2011-06-20T10:37:00.001-05:00

Not in space, but rather in my little patch of earth called home. I have lost my voice, I have lost heart and I have lost drive. So I stay silent, as a person dwelling in the land of malaise is a person to be avoided, unless one is looking to become depressed and miserable.

Therefore, I have devoted my time and limited energy to my flowers, my dogs, horses and Mark; I think in this order. The iris are spent, the peonies pummeled into submission by unrelenting rain, the roses coming into their glory despite the weather. They have given me an excuse to stop in and say hello and sorry. Sorry I have not been more considerate, that I am not visiting and conversing with the few of you who are my friends. My reasoning is, my negative energy spills forth, whether intended or not, and I am unwilling to inflict it upon any of you.

The bright spot in my life is our former governor, Tim Pawlenty, falling flat on his miserable face as he attempts to play in the big leagues of presidential politics! Our other escapee from the asylum, Michelle Bachman, continues to make me shameful of the people in her district who endorse her with their vote. When did mean, vitriolic and uninformed become a virtue to be honored?

So, as the state of our Union makes my head ache and the state of Minnesota prepares for a government shutdown in two weeks, I will smell the roses and reach for the bottle of wine. And continue to resist the urge to whine to the universe.

Without further ado, the flowers of the gardens, which fill my house with heavenly scent and my heart with a much needed joy.

More, Forget the Please

2011-05-15T07:40:00.000-05:00

Look at this closely. This is what insatiable greed looks like. Well-groomed, dressed in Seville Row suits and silk ties. They look human. But, if like me, you think limitless, unconscionable greed acting without regard for humankind defines evil, then these are also the faces of evil. This is how evil presents itself. As an agreeable continence, but underneath is a psychosis which manifests itself in the form of an unquenchable need for more.

BP America Chairman Robert Malone, Shell Oil President John Hofmeister, Chevron Vice Chairman Peter Robertson; ConocoPhillips Executive Vice President John Lowe, and ExxonMobile Senior Vice President J. Stephen Simon are sworn in on Capitol Hill Wednesday prior to testifying before a Senate hearing on oil prices.

Dusted Off, But Damp

2011-05-14T12:39:00.000-05:00

This is my view, which I have been looking at for one long month. Rain. More rain. And let's not forget, chilly. Except Tuesday, when it was 90 degrees F with a 72 dew point, and now it is 52 F. Just thought I would be my usual day brightener.

I have not been online for about a month, other than a little bit on Facebook. I needed a digital break and probably still do. I'm crabby. Ari just doesn't know what to make of it.

Bored geldings tired of standing in the mud.

Scamper checking out Bounce.

Oh, I'm tough!

I'm planning to put in a rose border along the sidewalk to the back door, which really acts as the front door. It is too wet, too cold and too depressing to get them in the ground.

Yep, smells wet.

Rhododendron finally decided to bloom. Brave. Very brave. We had snow about ten days ago.

Are we done complaining now? I want a nap.

Okay, I'll crawl back into my hole now. Maybe I'll come out when spring comes, probably sometime in July.

Rain, Rain.....Go Away

2011-05-14T10:35:00.001-05:00

OK, after summarily offending and or making people uncomfortable yesterday, I will return to my weather whine.

I took this photo this morning, from the veranda because......you guessed it, it's RAINING! Still. I had a day where I was able to pull some weeds, but I have not been out to pick up the mess, because it won't stop raining.

This is the same flower bed at this time last year, from the opposite direction. *sigh*

And just because I feel their pain, Sophie and Iris trying to eat their hay in peace. Mud, rain, what is a horse to do?

Until it dries up and we see the sun once again, I am probably not much good for anything but a long, wailing whine. Or opinions. Of which I have many and am always eager to share. Maybe I should find something to do. Or not. See you when the sun shines.

I'm A Closet Queen

2011-05-13T13:12:00.006-05:00

Fan. I was and still am a fan of Freddie Mercury. His voice was amazing and his audacity was audacious. At the beginning of his career, the unabashed, here I am, what I am, of him was bold indeed.

I worked at a city hospital while I was in college. It was my first exposure to openly gay men, as the male working population there was about 90% homosexual. I was accustomed to looking at life from the outside of the circle, so they and I became natural friends. It was one of life's learning moments. The flagrant queens fulfilled everyone's stereotypical bias (and were endlessly fun and interesting), but many defied definition. My best friend was a conservative. I did not understand it, but there you are. In very short order, I saw people of various types, personalities and likability. I saw human beings, living their lives, just like anyone else.

My state of birth, the place I returned to after a small wandering about, has a Democratic governor and a very radical rightwing legislature. Said legislature is putting on the ballot an amendment to the state constitution banning same sex marriage. It is not enough that we have a law banning this, they need to make the grand spectacle of a constitutional amendment. The governor cannot block it.

I wonder about people who want laissez-faire governance where business and guns are concerned (they are also putting together a 'shoot on sight' law for intruders of property), but are so dogged in their need to control individual actions. Of course, they all cite their religious beliefs, which are not supposed to be the basis of law in the US, but which are increasingly creeping in.

I do not believe in the omnipotent being, nor of the son, but if I did I would have to wonder why such a being would create individuals which then its' followers are expected to revile. It screamingly lacks logic. I know logic and religion rarely shake hands, but come on. From what I have gleaned over the years, Jesus was more about inclusion than exclusion. Was on the side of the underdog, the disenfranchised. How did his followers stray so far from his ways? How can they remove an entire class of people from humanhood in the name of Jesus?

May 21st is supposed to be 'The Rapture'. What if it really happened? Wouldn't there be a whole lot of very surprised righteous. I would be left behind, according to the pious, so I would get the very big thrill of observing their well-deserved horror. Oh, yes indeed.

You know, you don't have to agree with a thing to tolerate it. If it is not harming us or the society then we should have no say in whether it is done or not. It is not my nor your life, nor our business. One can still shield oneself with religion and proclaim "I am not a bigot."

Which leads me back to Freddie Mercury. I think I would have liked him. I know I like his talent and how he lived his life was his business, not mine.

Report From The Trenches

2011-04-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

Hey all, I just wanted to report I am up to my ears in never ending work and have no time or energy to spend online. Spring & farm life make for a busy me. I really should be getting too old for this, but I find I neglected to plan an exit strategy, so there you go. Somewhere along the line I discovered horses are a lot of work! Tax time ends today, so Mark will emerge from his den and join the living once more and perhaps give me a hand here and there. Hope does spring and all that.

See you when I emerge from my mountain of manure.

Wish I'd Said That

2011-04-12T05:30:00.001-05:00

The greatest evil perpetrated is the evil committed by nobodies, that is by human beings who refuse to be persons.

~ Hannah Arendt

Curiouser and curiouser.

~ Alice

I'll Fly Away

2011-04-11T07:47:00.000-05:00

Someday. Not this day.

Miscellany

2011-04-10T08:57:00.002-05:00

Don't be fooled, this is from last year.

It rained last night, thunder & lightning....oh my. Wash away the winter dirt and gloom, bring on the green.

Some of you will remember that I started a political blog a year or so ago, which I abandoned rather promptly. I became blocked every time I sat down to write. It was the strangest thing, I went blank. But then, when I consider myself, it probably is not such a mystery. I dislike tasks, I don't function well under orders and I easily distract and lose interest. I basically had set myself up to quit, because I gave myself an order to write specifically on one subject. Don't tell me what to do!, was my response to myself. This little insight also gives a hint as to why I work with horses and not humans.

I learned last evening on FaceBook that I have a cousin who is a birther. Ah, the family tree. She is also very religious. And concerned. I, on the other hand, am a heathen and fairly pissed off. I am no fan of President Obama and I will not cast another vote for him, as I am also fairly scorned, but come on, really.

I don't know why, but I was thinking this morning about the years which have passed and yet I am basically what I was born as. The serious faced little girl, standing off to the side of the crowd, never quite mixing in, but never quite walking away either. The only thing changed is I'm not a little girl anymore. Many valiant attempts at changing myself have resulted in my remaining myself, so I guess the lesson learned is I wasted some time. I don't do that anymore.

I don't understand Kindle. I love books. Real books. I own them. I display them. I lay in bed at night, turning pages. I have no desire to read in my bed with a piece of electronics. But then, I am in the dark ages on all of the electronics. I think I am better off for it, but that is an opinion of a slightly crabby, reclusive grey haired one. So take it for what it is worth.

I think I shall go out and play in the mud with my beasties now. Good times, oh yah.

Deja Vu All Over Again

2011-04-09T10:46:00.002-05:00

Did we elect George Bush in someone else's body?

Quote in today's paper by Barack Obama: "Programs people rely on will be cut back", Obama said, adding Americans had to begin to live within their means. "Needed infrastructure will be delayed." "Cuts will be painful."

To whom? To the least of us, that's who. Let me give a little economic lecture here. Money does not disappear. It moves. It can move up, it can move laterally or it can move down. It has moved up to 1/2 of one percent of the population, sucking the life out of the country. And this budget bill and the one to come for 2012 is designed to move what is remaining in our meager pockets in the same direction. Critical thinking is seriously missing in our general population. I guess massive numbers of us will need to pee on the electric fence before we learn. They get away with this because we let them.

If tax cuts to the 'job creators' created jobs, we should be swimming in work, as we have had tax cuts for these mythical job creators for ten years. Ah, but it isn't enough to get them to create those jobs. They need more and Paul Ryan has just the ticket; more cuts, down to a top tax rate of 25% for individuals. And of course, we can't change the tax laws to force GE, Exxon Mobil, et al, to pay federal income tax. We can't discontinue the federal payouts that these defrauders receive. We will not change the law that rewards companies for sending their jobs to other countries. Countries that these greed mongers exploit to the fullest extent possible, before moving on to the next. But we will cut Federal employees, infrastructure spending, medicaid payments, attempt to dismantle Medicare and Social Security, defund WIC & programs for the disabled and elderly, eliminate Federally backed loans for first time home buyers, cut veterans benefits, or if I simply cut to the chase; throw us under the bus.

And here is something important: no one creates a job because of a tax cut. Jobs happen when demand for something increases. Not because someone's personal wealth is increased. Tax cuts for rich people are a way of redistributing the wealth, to rich people. Tax hikes on rich people redistribute the wealth to society. We are getting our pockets picked. The only entity that creates jobs when there is not demand is the government, because it is not in the business of profit. It should be in the business of protecting the people, but at this time it is not a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We have an oligarchy, yes we do. All of these Federal spending cuts are going to tailspin an already fragile economy. But the titans of industry and finance are not concerned about that. They need to have their pathology fed.

We had better get busy and start peeing on that electric fence.

Remnants

2011-04-08T11:51:00.003-05:00

Of a winter

disappearing.

Decay

and ruin

Life emerging

and

life

sustained.

Indeed

2011-04-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

There are three types of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest who have to pee on an electric fence to learn by themselves.

~Will Rogers

Not Will Rogers, But......

2011-04-07T13:00:00.000-05:00

America is trading in the New Deal for a Raw Deal.

That's all I have to say for now.

Enough

2011-04-01T22:30:00.008-05:00

Our State Legislature is composed of these sociopathic personalities. It is hard to remember this was the state of Humphrey, Mondale and Wellstone. This is the stuff destruction is made of. We have a decent Democratic Governor (why, Minnesota did you vote him in and then give him this to work with?), but he can't accomplish anything. All he can do is veto and hope there aren't enough turncoat Dems to join them in an overturn. They have cut funds for Meals on Wheels, healthcare for the poor, nursing home funding, more and more.

For those who don't know, we had the Presidential hopeful, Tim Pawlenty, as Governor for eight years, The worst eight years of our history. He left us with a 6.2 billion deficit, the great fiscal conservative that he is. And let us not forget, we have the pleasure of hosting Michelle Bachman. My head spins. It really does.

Ernie Leidiger (34A) - Email Newsletter

From the Capitol Legislative Update, April 1, 2011

Balancing the Budget and Putting Priorities First

This week Republican colleagues and I released our plan for a balanced budget that slows the growth of state spending and reforms government for the future. Our budget solution is fiscally responsible, provides tax relief and realigns state spending to reality. Unlike the tax and spend Governor, we know it’s time to leave the status quo behind and take real steps towards a stronger future. Read on for details of the first of our budget bills passed out of the House to balance the budget and improve Minnesota’s economy.

Taxes

Our tax bill passed a series of tax reductions aimed at putting more money in the pockets of middle-class Minnesotans and helping the people of this state drive us forward to economic recovery. Our proposal reduces the lower income tax rate from 5.35% to 5.25% in TY2012; from 5.25% to 5.15% in TY2013; and 5.15% to 4.75% in TY2014. The bill also includes business tax relief designed to improve the state’s economic climate, most notably an upfront capital equipment sales tax exemption to provide businesses more capital for expansion and new jobs.

As the latest budget forecast showed, when families and job creators have more money to put into the economy, state revenue improves without raising taxes and our economic outlook strengthens. As budget negotiations continue, my colleagues and I will continue to stand up for the taxpayers of Minnesota and the economic opportunity that will help us lead the recovery.

Education

Our Higher Education Finance Bill focuses on students by fully funding programs that help them pay for college – the state grant program – and making no reductions to the work study program. It also creates tuition controls to protect students from unreasonable tuition increases and sets performance benchmarks for the U of M and MnSCU.

In the midst of a challenging budget situation, the funding levels for the U of M and MnSCU are rolled back to late 1990s levels. Total reductions are 14.1% or $411.063 million as compared to the Governor who reduced the Higher Education budget by $170.908 million. By focusing on students, promoting reform and driving accountability our goal is to maximize the effectiveness of human and financial resources.

The House GOP’s K-12 education bill proposes many reforms, including ending wasteful integration aid, sunsetting ineffective compensatory programs, providing scholarships for families to send their children to early childhood educational programs and enable parents to choose the best place for their children, enhanced accountability measures and school grading, expanded family choice in education, and mandate relief.

When it comes to funding, our legislation increases the state’s commitment to K-12 education 3.2% compared to the previous biennium. We’re working to protect public schools, and our legislative committees are working to direct money into the classroom and towards programs that help our schools and students achieve the best results.

---

Last fall, the people told us they wanted smaller government, less spending and better service. Innovation and reform is how we put Minnesota on track for fiscal sustainability and economic strength. Stay tuned as in the next weeks I’ll send out updates on our omnibus legislation as they move through the House.

Throughout the session I will keep constituents updated with these columns and regular email updates, which you can sign up for at www.house.mn/34a. Constituents are also welcome to stop by my office or call anytime with questions, comments and concerns. I look forward to hearing from you and making sure your voice is heard in the legislature.

Sincerely,

Ernie

My reply:

Representative Leidiger,

I don't know where to start. Let me say, up front, that I am one of the people and I never voted for any of this. Let me also say, this is sociopathic behavior destined to destroy our social fabric.

You will not listen because you are either a person with a personality disorder or you are in the pocket of the monied powers. It really does not matter, because either reason is beyond redemption.

I am an older person. I remember a much different Minnesota. A vibrant Minnesota. A Minnesota that had excellent education, high paying jobs and a very strong social safety net. I was actually a recipient of that net in my youth.

We had great schools, good roads, wonderful arts and a helping hand to those in need second to none. Our higher education opportunities were the envy of the country. All of this made up for the terrible weather. Business flourished. And, we had one of the highest income tax rates in the nation. Somehow, it did not matter, we had jobs and self-respect.

Thirty years of this mental illness in the US has finally led to this. I really can't imagine how this is better. My property taxes are very high. If this continues, I will not have a home. My health insurance premiums are reaching a point where we eventually won't have any. We have private insurance. If we got sick enough, our deductible is so high that it would bankrupt us. The privileged are spared, while the rest of us slowly witness our own demise.

And no one creates a job. A job happens because there is a demand for something. The demand becomes great enough that the provider of the product needs increased help. Tax cuts will never create one job. Spending cuts will only create further misery, but never a job.

I hope you are not one of the usual conservatives who proclaim yourself to be a Good Christian. I would hope you are not so cynical as that. I think if the question, "What would Christ do?" were answered by Christ, it would be wholly different from what you and your brethren propose.

SJN

Monday, March Evening

2011-03-28T21:48:00.000-05:00

I'm listening to an owl speak the language of hoot. It is verbose, this owl. I haven't heard an owl for many years and I feel a sense of relief at its' hoot, hoot, hoot. Hoot. Always four.

Strange, this relief. They are master hunters, owls. They are the raptor of raptors, so hearing one should not give me peace. But they have been gone, when once I heard them often. And there it is, loud and clear through the closed-upness of a house in a Minnesota March.

Everything is wrong, it is polluted, contaminated and irradiated. It is immoral and unconscionable. I feel as if America is a Tim Burton movie. With a bit of international irrationality tossed in for good measure.

And I hear the owl.

Rerun 2009

2011-03-24T13:21:00.001-05:00

I clicked on the link of a random blogger and read a post about being ordinary and how people are thinking about the ordinary things in life. This made me remember something I wrote a couple of years ago about this subject, brought to my mind not because people are contemplating ordinariness, but rather because I saw so many extraordinary people blogging. In my not always humble opinion, I think it is worth a rerun. May 7, 2009:

Wonder Woman

Snow & Chow

2011-03-23T10:12:00.003-05:00

What spring looks like on my frozen piece of earth. Wish you were here?

On another note, and because I have absolutely nothing interesting happening in my life, other than nearly being picked up by the wind yesterday and deposited in the Land of Oz, I will talk about my dogs. Or rather my cooking for them. This is what the dogs' dinner (as well as breakfast and lunch) looks like.

I make their food. Some may remember Grace's near death experience in January '09, the hemorrhaging all over the waiting area of the referral clinic and the panicked staff as they rushed her into the treatment room. Grace had Inflammatory Bowel Disease and would have been a very dead dog within minutes. It is amazing that she is alive today.

It is the dog food, there are too many different protein types in dog food. The gut is assaulted and a rather large number of dogs succumb. I fed a very expensive food, no corn or beet pulp. There were 14 different proteins in it. If you have ever seen a dog slough off its' dead intestinal lining, you know why I became a crusader. The problem is, no one listens.

So this is this morning's batch of chow: parboiled rice, rolled oats, peas, carrots, extra lean ground beef. I put a little olive oil in, as well as flax meal. I change the meat with each new batch. Sometimes ground turkey, another time I will boil chicken thighs for stock and give the dogs the meat. As a special treat, they sometimes get organ meat. I supplement them with a calcium, mineral and vitamin powder mixed in with their breakfast. They also get Teddy's Pride, a probiotic for the teeth. Greyhounds are notorious for very bad teeth. Breakfast gets some yogurt or cottage cheese as well. It helps mix in the supplements.

They get bones and dental chews for the hard chew they need to clean plaque from their teeth.

So there we have it. I am a bit of a crazy dog lady, but they appreciate me! And I do love my pooches and never want to experience such trauma again. There are good dog foods on the market, but for what they cost, I might as well cook. CosCo has become my BFF.

March Madness

2011-03-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

Howard knows how to handle depressing overcast March days.

Grey, dreary March. I read of spring in New York, Illinois, Oregon and see only snow, mud and wet manure in my own landscape. This is the hard time, the patient time. I am not a person who waits well. There is, of course, nothing to be done about it. I fret and fuss anyway, complaining to the universe about the mess that is March. And the universe smiles its' lopsided grin and continues as it will.

On The Domain Train, Or Help!

2011-03-17T15:50:00.001-05:00

My new look.

After spending the past several hours trying to point my domain name to a new server and making a total mess of that, which finally led me to where I should have been in the first place: on the phone with tech support. Let me say this, GoDaddy has very good support. He was so patient with me I think he deserves a commendation.

This journey began about three weeks ago when, while suffering the effects of a concussion, I unwisely decided to edit my neglected business website. I actually crashed my website. After spending time trying to bring it back, I decided to dump it. I spent a lot of money a decade ago having it built, so I was reluctant, but enough was enough. Also, I could not change it beyond photos and text and it was looking a little tired.

The templates for building your own site are so different now from then. I was able to put together a nice looking website without frustration. The frustration comes trying to publish it. I have to use the site I built it on, so I cancelled the former server, HostRocket, and I needed to go to the site holding my domain to point to the new server. Are you frustrated yet? Designing the website is easy, but why a web designer is a good thing is, they do all of this other stuff for you. In 28 - 48 hours I will find out if this worked.

I am better. My headaches are mostly gone and I am not walking through a fog.

Over and Over Again My Friend

2011-03-14T22:13:00.001-05:00

This song has been running over and over again in my head. From Madison, to Michigan, to Indian and Ohio. Culminating in Japan. Oh my god, Japan. I cannot get it out of my head.

2011-03-12T13:19:00.002-06:00

Hello from headache and dimness. I have not even looked at this space for the past week. I cannot type. Honestly. I type gibberish and it takes me so long to edit it that I tend to stay away. I have been doing brief Facebook updates, but even that takes me ten minutes. I find that taking photos is a challenge as well. I am usually out of focus, but I think these are not blurry. Who knows, they may be, but I see them as right.

When I feel up to it, I can cook. It's about the only thing I am doing. I don't think I mentioned that I have a rotten sinus infection on top of a concussion. My cup runneth over.

Since I have nothing but my problems to talk about, I have food. It is amazing how self-absorbed I have become, but perhaps not, since all I do is sit in my office with the curtains pulled or cook when I feel I can.

Today I made a focaccia dough and topped it as a pizza.

Olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley & chives heated through in a sauté pan. Some chopped kalamata olives, a little bit of artichoke tapenade, fresh mozzarella, crumbled goat chess and a little grated pecorino romano.

A nice lunch on a dreary day. It is tangy, which I liked. This is filling, so plenty is left over for dinner tonight if I find myself unwell.

I got through this post without too much unintelligible words to correct. Perhaps it is a sign.

I hope everyone is well, I miss your stories and the sense of community, but it is hard to look at the screen for too long and I am so worried I won't catch my weird writing. I would be mortified if I did not. This last sentence read: I me fortified at I did not. So now I will proof before I publish. Several times.

See you all soon, I sincerely hope.

Short Note

2011-03-04T08:53:00.000-06:00

I wake up with a profound sadness every morning. I wraps me, actually swaddles me. It takes about thirty minutes for the feeling to subside, but it is there to greet me in the morning.

I have a constant headache, some dizziness and fatigue. So this is what you get when you bruise the brain.

It's best for me to limit my computer time, as my seriously messed up website proves. I thought I would do some changes and I sure did. I have disabled it. My brain won't allow me to put any effort into fixing it right now. My instinct is to let it go. But my instincts are not to be trusted, so I'll leave it alone.

The consensus seems to be that this could be a long haul. I sincerely hope not. I'm getting too old to spend so much time doing nothing.

This is all the news fit to print. Perhaps I'll be back with some better news soon.

Down, But Not Out

2011-02-24T07:51:00.002-06:00

I should be forthcoming and say what happened to me last Friday. I had a slip and fall on the ice, which caused me to fall from standing, to the ground at full force. I hit my head so hard I am actually surprised I am alive.

It took a couple of days for symptoms to show, but I am now dealing with post-concussion syndrome. To add to it, one of my horses conked me with her bony head in the exact spot on Tuesday. So twice hit.

I have not spent much time online because I am not sure if I am always making sense and I also have myself a doozie of a headache, along with light sensitivity.

There is nothing to do except allow time to heal my brain. I cannot completely stop working because I have living beings which need care. Mark is in his busy season, so he can only do so much for me. How the choices we make in life can affect us in ways we never consider.

Anyway, I am not doing much blog visits or always responding when someone makes a comment. Hopefully this will resolve itself quickly. I would be unhappy to have chronic headache.

I have packed more problems into the past three years then I experienced in all the rest of my life. I think I need to take better care.

Buffalo Beast

2011-02-23T14:16:00.003-06:00

I don't think this has made it to the usual news sources, but it is on progressive radio. What a schmuck. The Koch brothers have given a great deal of financial backing to Governor Scott Walker. They are also a major source of financing for the Tea Party. This is humorous, even though it is also deplorable. I'll enjoy the humor for now.

click here

The website is getting a lot of hits and is shutting down. Here is a link to the Huffington Post.

Scott Walker Punked

Edited to add: There is a back story here. Within this bill is a provision for Walker to be able to sell the public utilities, without opening it to bidding, to anyone he chooses for any amount he chooses. Koch Industries is in the energy business.

Howard's Wisdom

2011-02-22T08:01:00.001-06:00

Poor Howard is exhausted. He has been confined to the house during the snow storm and therefore he has endured my lecturing about history and civics and constitutionality. He has been pummeled with my sharp criticism of Barack Obama and the weak-kneed Democrats. I have battered his tender ears with diatribes against the uninformed populace of America. He knows of solidarity and of 14 Democrats who have a spine.

By day three he collapsed in utter despair and said all he really wants out of life is a comfy bed and a biscuit. He may be onto something.....

Wallowing in Winter

2011-02-20T13:56:00.000-06:00

Winter came back.

I'm tending my garden, making soup. It seems the thing to do when it is snowing and blowing outside. I have been distracted and distressed over the past few days. I am worried about my country. I really am.

All I can do is try to tamp down the anxiety and carry on. I do not possess the keys to the asylum so I am unable to confine the lunatics. So I'll eat a cookie.

Maybe Not

2011-02-17T13:58:00.004-06:00

Tunisia. Egypt. Bahrain. Yemen. Libya. Madison.

Yes, Madison, WI. This is getting little to no attention from the mainstream media, but there is a protest happening in Madison that I believe is the spark we have been waiting for to motivate and mobilize the working people of America. And I believe the wonder of what happened in Tunisia and Egypt lit the flame in mid-America last week.

The newly elected Republican governor, Scott Walker, announced on Friday that he was going to unilaterally suspend collective bargaining for public employees, as well as a pay cut (including benefits) of about 20%. In essence, the governor is going about busting a union.

Governor Walker threatened to call out the National Guard if the people rallied, which they did, in large numbers. John Nichols, a writer for The Nation, lives in Madison and reported yesterday that upward of 20,000 came out and marched onto the Capital. 30,000 are there today.

The state Democrats walked out of the chamber in protest of the vote, leaving the Republicans without a quorum. The State Police have been ordered to bring them back. I just heard that two Republicans have gone missing as well. If true, two who don't want to vote on this bill. It is also reported that the Democrats have left the state.

Finally. I knew it had to happen, but I did not know what would be the catalyst. I believe, I ardently hope, this is it. Carl Rove is happily saying the less union members, the less union dues in the coffers for elections. Bust the unions, pit the people against one another and beat the working person into the ground. I think some people went to bed Thursday night thinking they were members of the Tea Party and woke up Friday knowing they are members of the working class.

Victor Juhasz Image

Mean time, Wall Street paid themselves 135 billion in 2010. The Federal Reserve is optimistically expecting economic growth of 4% this year, but joblessness to stay where it is. In other words, Wall Street will share in even greater gluttony, while everyone else has to take it in the shorts. Home foreclosures continue to rise. As our President said in regard to what is happening in Madison, the working people need to adjust to the new economic reality. The people of Madison are saying, maybe not.

We are on our own. We don't have the politicians, we have ourselves.

Be Still My Pounding Heart

2011-02-11T09:19:00.000-06:00

We will be 29 F today. This is the Minnesota version of spring. I am almost giddy. Be glad you can't see that, it is a scary, scary sight.

So, in about three months we will go from this........

to this.

We never discuss in polite company what happens in between. It is slimy, dirty and it sucks tendons.

Denmark, Medicare........Soup

2011-02-09T13:33:00.003-06:00

I think it's in the Second Amendment.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence then does knowledge.

Charles Darwin

My American friend who has lived a dozen or so years in Denmark wrote today on her blog moments of perfect clarity of the rise of conservative political thinking in Denmark. I was so surprised and alarmed by this that I have thought about it throughout the day. Denmark? Really?

In my thinking I remembered the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Basically a study that concluded that people who perform at a lower standard overestimate their own abilities and cannot discern the difference when shown evidence of higher performing results on the same task.

This is brief synopsis from the study:

"The skills needed to produce logically sound arguments, for instance, are the same skills that are necessary to recognize when a logically sound argument has been made. Thus, if people lack the skills to produce correct answers, they are also cursed with an inability to know when their answers, or anyone else's, are right or wrong. They cannot recognize their responses as mistaken, or other people's responses as superior to their own."

This is why the old women at a Tea Party rally holding a sign exclaiming "Keep Government Out of My Medicare" does not and will not understand the disconnect in that statement. This is why there are no arguments that can be made which will convince adherents of our strange political right there is tremendous hypocrisy in anti-government rhetoric coming from people whom have made a career of government. The inability to believe a birth certificate which states a US birth, or a decades old membership in a church may preclude being a Muslim, or not recognizing a very pro-business administration operating before their very eyes while crying out about anti-business policy. A preconceived belief will override reality every time. I have, in my unintellectual way, simply said "you can't argue with stupid". This is not to imply intellectual inferiority, as my PhD neighbor is proof, but rather a lack of, in my opinion, curiosity and holding onto beliefs which are not rooted in fact.

Which leads me back to Denmark. The US is not the patent holder on this effect, so it stands to reason that it is in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, et al. The difference will be, will the Danish people recognize what is happening and react before there is a toehold in the political system? The liberal establishment in the United States viewed the radical right and religious right as outside the mainstream, and they were, but a slow, steady crawl into the consciousness of people who were open to the mindset moved it into the forefront of American politics and therefore American society. The result is where we are now.

I have faith. I must, as I want to believe in the Scandinavian democratic vision of a benevolent and civil society.

Lest you think I have spent all morning ruminating over the politics of Denmark, here is my soup-of-the-day. I have been renamed the Soup Goddess. You may address me as Her Soupiness.

Lentil & Sausage Soup

Cardinals & Of Course, Soup

2011-02-08T13:08:00.000-06:00

Mr. Cardinal had moved into the dogwood condo.

Male cardinals are easy prey for the eagles and hawks in the winter. Their flaming plumage makes them highly visible against the bright white winter background, so they find hiding places for the daytime. He has moved into the dogwoods outside my kitchen door. I do enjoy watching him hop around during the day. I feel a sympathy for him, as I also feel confined by the wintery weather. Of course, there is not something waiting to eat me if I stick my neck out.

I had a lentil and sausage soup in mind for lunch, then I realized there was asparagus in the refrigerator which was not going to last. It became soup. Since it will be another subzero day tomorrow it will be lentils and sausage then.

I have been in the middle of the February Funk. I think everyone who lives in a cold climate knows what I'm speaking of. All I can think is "enough, already." I deeply wish this to be our last stretch of below zero weather. *sigh*

Two more months. Then we get mud.

Saturday Smile

2011-02-05T08:08:00.000-06:00

Wine. Women. And Opinions

2011-02-03T08:47:00.006-06:00

Take the time, have a cup.

Take the time. I took the advice, took the time and had a leisurely lunch in an old neighborhood standby in Saint Paul, St. Anthony Park to be exact. One of those elegant city neighborhoods which are used as a wide shot in a movie scene. A college and seminary neighborhood. Muffuletta has been there for as long as I can remember.

A long lunch with people I know and yet don't really know at all. The internet has introduced me to some interesting people whom have become part of my loosely knit circle. We spent hours, this group of four opinionated women of a certain age, laughing and opining our way through the cold afternoon. People I met online. Years ago.

We once had a vibrant and often contentious Midwest horse talk forum, a place that became our local watering hole where we would gather and talk about the issues of the day, whether it be politics or horse training. A group of us were about the same age and close to one another in philosophy, leading to our beginning a habit of occasionally meeting for lunch.

After time, the forum lost its steam, another started but never really got the same energy, we scattered; me to the blogland, some to Face Book, others, who knows. Then somehow, we reconnected and found ourselves sitting at a table in an old restaurant, falling into the rhythm of laughter and opinions. Years had gone by, yet anyone looking at our table would believe us old near and dear friends. I suppose in a way we are. We spent a lot of time together, just not in the same room.

We will do it again. Because it was fun.

Living Frozen

2011-01-31T10:31:00.001-06:00

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you,
I could walk forever in my garden.

~Attributed to Claudia Ghandi

I am dreaming of roses. Allegra's comment that making soup in akin to tending the garden resonated in my winter addled brain in a way that has me dreaming of roses.

I never have the time or energy to follow through on the grand schemes I plot during the long winter. I design gardens. I scour websites and page through catalogues. Then the reality of a less-than-cooperative man and my own inability to do the job myself interferes with my grand plans. Never mind I always find I do not have the time to maintain what I have.

So perhaps this will be an answer. Roses in pots. Sometimes the simplest is the hardest to realize when wrapped up in dreams. My dreaming may now take another turn. Perhaps a more achievable direction. Maybe once and for all I can put away the notion that I can have acres of perfectly manicured gardens and settle for my small plots accented with pots of roses as opposed to pots of annuals. And all it took is an ad for roses. Don't tell me I'm a slow study.

It's cold and snowing, I think a perfect day to walk through the garden in my mind and tend the soup in the pot. One I dream of, the other I can actually realize for lunch.

I am dreaming of roses.

Roses, Deer & Soup As A Metaphor

2011-01-29T08:48:00.000-06:00

It's been a long winter and it's not over yet. I can tell it's been long as I find myself waxing poetic about soup. Soup and my acupuncturist have become the beacons of my life. I think we should keep this between us though, as I don't want anyone else to know I am so very boring.

It is hard to believe these beautiful things can actually bloom here when looking out the window and seeing the frozen land. Nature is a mystery.

Of course, I have a small problem known as baby deer. He is quite content living here with my horses as his companions. They have developed a tolerance for one another and I think it gives the deer a sense of a herd. I hope he finds his proper place in the spring, for his sake as well as mine. Cute as he is, he is not welcome to my plants for his dinner.

It is cold and getting colder as the week progresses. I slip between normalcy and melancholy, following the vagaries of the sky. Sunshine or gray. I make soup and feel its warmth fill the kitchen and life is good. So here I am, back to the soup.

Zuppa

2011-01-27T19:28:00.000-06:00

Dinner, a simple cannelloni and escarole soup with big fat croutons. Who wouldn't like that.

I have made a lot of soup this winter, much more than usual. I think the basic and simple quality of it is appealing to me in an organic way. So few ingredients can produce a complexity that cannot be lost on the palette. It reminds me of some of the more interesting people I have known who appear to be simple and ordinary, until you explore a bit deeper and find the amazing, which has been there all along, but you don't realize because one expects so much more. Like soup.

Oh Deer

2011-01-26T07:32:00.002-06:00

He is still here. I have not seen him for awhile and hoped he found a herd to join. I looked out my office window to see him pawing at the ground. I thought he was digging to get at the grass, but he was making a little nest for a nap. After about an hour snooze, he got up and snacked along the tree line for a couple of hours. He looks like he is doing well. He sure is cute. And he scares my dogs.

It will be a moderate day in this frozen land. I wish I could look forward to spring, but to those of us with livestock it just means mud. Boot sucking, tendon popping mud. I hope this little guy finds his way by the time the flowers sprout. I really do not want to share my gardens with him for his dinner.

I need to get about my day. It should be so much easier, now that I know the state of our union is strong.

Wouldn't It Be Wonderful

2011-01-25T08:18:00.001-06:00

This poster hangs on the wall of the food shelf I have started volunteering some time at. It is visible as one walks in the door, as it hangs on the far wall. I find it poignant as well as ironic. My immediate thought was, wouldn't that be nice.

Think about what that would mean, if we truly lived in a just society. Food banks would not exist, for one thing.

I'll leave you with this quote from the CEO of a Minneapolis based medical device manufacturer, Howard Root.

"To task our corporations with the goal of fulfilling society's needs is a beautiful thought. But it would create a burden that could never be met while further damaging our competitiveness during the most challenging economic time of my life."

It is our task to determine how much longer we want to live with this as our societal model.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Thinking

2011-01-23T21:12:00.000-06:00

I've had quite of a bit of time to ponder since we have been in a deep freeze and the spirit has not moved me in the direction of productivity. Remind me of this the next time I k'vetch about not having time to get my life in order.

There has been so much to think about.

~United Health Care, that stellar Minnesota company, has reported a surge in profits because so many Americans cannot afford to go to the doctor. This is a good thing, I guess. A good thing for the insurer.

~On the same page of the newspaper, Minnesota has a lower than the national average unemployment rate in the last quarter, even though we lost jobs. I don't know about you, but that seems like tricky math to me. I guess if enough people fall off the unemployment roles you can claim victory.

~Barack Obama wants to open more markets to American business, so we can sell these markets more American goods. Made in China.

~It seems unnecessary regulation is at fault for the lack of employment opportunities for the American population. It is a good thing that our astute President and his Republican friends are on that now. Who needs those pesky safeguards anyway.

~Social Security does not rely on the general fund, so it cannot add to a deficit. That is why cuts need to be made to it. To reduce the deficit.

~President Obama is open to revising the corporate tax rate. Because those multinationals need more money given back to them. We need to reduce the deficit, so, well, you know.

~Comcast had nothing to do with Keith Olberman getting the unceremonious boot. Nope.

~Barack Obama is doing what the people want. Showing his centrist tendencies. You know, Wall Street before Main Street. I thought that was what he was doing all along whilst he was busy being a Socialist Nazi Communist president with Wall Street bankers sprinkled liberally (no pun intended) throughout his Cabinet. I must have been living on Sesame Street.

~And of course, one can never overlook the fact that guns do not kill people. People kill people. With guns. They kill people with hammers as well, but that is pretty much a single killing at a time. They may as well be efficient if they are going to do it. 'Cause we have a right. If everyone packs heat, then we will be safe.

Farm & Fawn

2011-01-20T10:40:00.002-06:00

I have been busy with another endeavor. Face Book finally reeled me in. I know, I said I was breaking up with Face Book, but they went and added a farm page to my profile and I could not bear to leave it empty. So I have been busy uploading photos. I could probably spend half a year just doing that. If you want to look at my handiwork, here is the link. It's a 'Fan' page so anyone can see it. So much to do, so little time!
Worlds End Farm

We have a guest. He looks to be a weanling white tail without his dam or the herd.

He has been living in the spruce tree line to the west of the house. I took these photos through the window as he was munching berries from the vines. He does not seem inclined to leave, so I broke down and put hay out for him last evening. I don't want to encourage him, but he is young and alone and this is a very tough winter. So now I have something else to worry about.

It's a cold day, well below zero with the wind. I have a lot of catching up to do inside, so I need to stay off the computer and get to it. Really, I do.

Jeff, Dorothy & Me

2011-01-14T08:33:00.002-06:00

I watched the profile of Jeff Bridges on American Masters a couple of evenings ago. He said something which caught my attention; "Cynics are sort of crushed romantics."

I think I came out of the womb casting a cynical eye. Now I know this is probably not true, but that would mean I was a crushed romantic at a young age.

Although no Dorothy Parker, I'm not mean, I am the one in the crowd that throws the cold water. I'm the person who does not get invited to the party of happy talk. Somewhere in there I will insert a "You really think so", or "It will not surprise me if.....", or "But....". I realize that conversation with me often becomes a boxing match, or perhaps a chess game. Or, as is often the case, the other party, while their eyes are spinning in their head, says something about the weather.

There have been times when I have tried to be like most people I know. Minnesota people. People who keep their opinions to themselves, at least to your face. I have tried to smile, keep quiet and quit bursting bubbles. I come across, at least in my own cartoon bubble, as a Stepford Wife on uppers.

Perhaps I am a frustrated diva who wanted, or perhaps needed, her own Round Table, surrounded by urbane and witty wags who hung on my every word, as I opined with smooth alacrity. In truth, I can't even keep my audience of dogs interested for more then a minute. Everyone needs a dream.

My original point, before I went off in another direction, is; I am off for another acupuncture treatment today. My cynicism toward this was dropped a few years ago when I saw how it helped a couple of my performance horses. Somehow in this upside down world of mine, it's animals first, two-legger sometime later. If I am going to be able to care for the animals into the future, this two-legger needs to turn that equation around for now.

I had no idea what I was going to do with that quote. I knew I wanted to use it, so I did. Sometimes a person simply needs to go with the flow. Even when the result is convoluted.

That Sound You Hear

2011-01-13T08:21:00.001-06:00

Is My Head Exploding.

I'll make this brief.

Sarah Palin's self-serving whine about how she is unfairly picked on should cement in any rational persons' mind that she is a narcissistic opportunist who either has no idea what 'blood libel' is, or she is so warped as to believe herself as persecuted as the Jews upon whom the blood libel was perpetrated.

Either way, she is one miserable individual.

Orchids & Other Matters

2011-01-12T13:02:00.001-06:00

My mother sent me an orchid for my birthday. I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. I somehow need to keep it alive.

I had pins in me yesterday. It did not hurt, I'm so pleased to say. As a matter of fact, acupuncture releases a sense of wellbeing while laying there stuck with needles.

There is a phenomenon that I recognize, when those who dwell in the world of people and life in a community experience and express through facial reaction, upon coming into contact with those of us who live in a completely different, um, reality. Watching the face has become a pass time of mine, sort of an out-of-body experience. I believe the acupuncturists were actually considering triage.

The very gentle, kind woman looked me in the face and tried to stay even in her tone as she told me: "Your body is freaking out". The young man sat so solemnly next to me and told me chronic problems are hard enough to help, but that I was acute. He looked so unhappy. I wanted to sooth them, tell them that it's OK, I know.

I am a stoic person, someone who somehow can keep going. I don't say this with pride, it's nothing to crow about. It brings a person to the place I am at. That is not a place to be. But it is very much a trait of people who are professionally in the business I have hung my hat on. A horse sends you flying and you get up with several cracked ribs and no one around....well you get up, clutching your side and you continue to bring them in, you throw hay down the chute, feed and water and then go in and wrap your torso. It really becomes the normal thing, something that is not given much thought. Something hurts, tape it, wrap it, medicate it, whatever. It is a matter of time before the body freaks out.

There is a price for everything and my bill has been presented. It seems my body is demanding payment in full. All of those things which seemed normal and rational at the time come around later for a visit. A long visit.

Bette Davis was so right when she said something about getting old not being for sissies. Once upon a time, I was Wonder Woman. Now, I'm simply a woman wondering "What the hell."

The good news, they think they can help me. I think so too. So I will behave and let them.

Needles & Pins

2011-01-11T08:34:00.001-06:00

When my son was a toddler he had a medical problem which put him in the hospital. I came into the room to find a child sobbing, large tears rolling down his face. "Mama, they put pins in me. PINS, mama, PINS!"

I have broke down my natural recalcitrance and have made an appointment with an acupuncturist. This is a big step for me to take. Odd, because I have used acupuncture on my horses for several years and have seen the positive results. But for myself? Well, not so much.

Chronic, unrelenting pain has changed my mind. I am tired of it. I want it to go away, even if just a little. So today they will put pins in me. If I don't faint first. Did I mention I become weak at the knees over needles and myself? Lordy.

This had better work.

The Calendar Turns

2011-01-10T07:43:00.001-06:00

So today is my birthday.

I'm listening to the father of the little girl who died in the terrible tragedy in Arizona. As I think of my life becoming one year older, I can't help but feel so sad about this little girl who will forever remain nine. It is incredibly sad and meaningless.

We will never be able to have a thoughtful conversation about guns in America.

Ramblings On A Cold Morning

2011-01-04T09:25:00.002-06:00

So, it is over and life can resume its normal flow. I normally don't put too much effort into the season, but did this year for my mother's benefit. I have to say, I'm very happy to be done with it.

It's below zero this morning. A bright, crisp day ahead. I enjoy the sunshine, but clear skies always bring in the cold. I guess there is a tradeoff in life. For sure in this frozen place.

I had the pleasure of company for lunch yesterday: a friend who had the day off. This is such a rare happening for me and was a very welcome diversion. Living in the country and not working away from home leaves me in a position of being in my own company too much. I feel like the guest who won't leave, too much of just me! It was great to see my friend and spend a couple of hours in someone else's company.

Well, as is obvious, there is not much going on in life. I have limited my intake of politics, as I was becoming despondent. My state, in the infinite wisdom of the voters, gave us a good Democratic governor and a Republican legislature. Our Republican governor of the past eight years has left us with a 6.2 billion dollar deficit and a decimated infrastructure. He had a real liking for cutting and his favorite target was the poor. Of course, he is a good Christian Man, as he was Born Again. At times I would like to believe there is a god, because if there is, these awful frauds would get their due. I could write a very long piece on my attitude toward the Christian Right, but I think I will not. Let me just say, Minnesota is broke, financially and morally. Our new governor will not have much luck in turning it around. So the beat goes on. And I try not to dwell on what I cannot control.

Enough unorganized ramblings for now. I need to go out into the cold and turn the beasties out for the day. They don't mind the cold and don't care that I do. Bad beasties.

Good day to you all.

I Resolve

2011-01-01T09:05:00.001-06:00

Yes, indeed. This is rain. On December 31. In Minnesota.

I have not made it a habit to make New Year resolutions, but the end of 2010 was spent thinking about my life, leading me to think about what I would like to change. The change of location to the south of France isn't going to happen, so I decided to spend my efforts on slightly more realistic goals.

* Less time spent on social media. Sorry Facebook, we are breaking up. I know, you did not know we were a couple, but I was there, lurking.

* I am going to be predictable and say I need to lose weight. It would seem I have found thirty pounds and they decided to attach themselves to my waist. It has been a very close relationship, but we do need to stop seeing one another.

* I decided to take French lessons. I was conversant in French once upon a time, but it would seem not conversing causes one to forget. Kristina told me it will increase my IQ. As long as it does not increase my waistline.

I think this is enough for one year. Another resolution is to not get carried away with myself. This one I think I can manage. If I continue to make fruit cobbler and heavily dollop it with whipped cream, I will have a real difficult time breaking up with my waist. Breaking up is hard to do.

Give A Thought

2010-12-29T07:42:00.001-06:00

The Allegra Rose

Paul Barden Photo

My dear friend Allegra needs all the help she can get. She is very ill and needs my peeps to give her their prayers, positive energy or whatever can be sent her way.

I have become very fond of this amazing woman. She is strong in spirit, but her body is betraying her. If you are so inclined, give her a thought today.

Of Sparkles and Mothers

2010-12-27T09:56:00.001-06:00

As dawn approached this morning it unveiled one of the wonders of the world; hoar frost. My landscape is sparkling in its' shroud of diamonds. Soon it will blow away, but until then the trees shine.

We have been through a series of firsts this year. The year my father died. The year my mother has lived alone for the first time in her life. She comes from a time when a daughter went from her father's house to her husband's. The daughter of Irish immigrants who identified herself as his wife. Struggling to understand a life alone.

So I made a Christmas for her. I strung lights in the house, sparkles on the house plants, ornaments glistening in bowls. I set a formal table, something I learned because of her insistence on finishing school for me. Doesn't that sound quaint and archaic. I thought so as I had to attend because she insisted. I made manicotti, something my mother would climb mountains for.

And it was good. It was peaceful and happy and bright. The fire snapped, the lights glowed and my mother drank champagne, ate cake and was smiling. She is not accustomed to smiling. I did right.

For now, there is the hoar frost. Nature did right as well.

Lest You Be Fooled

2010-12-26T05:30:00.001-06:00

American Gothic

Grant Wood

In the barn Christmas morning:

Me: South of France.

Him: South of France?

Me: I'd like to be in the south of France.

Him: Is that what they are talking about on the radio?

Me: No. I'd rather be in the south of France.

Him: Cause they're talking about it on the radio?

Me: No. I'd rather be in the south of France than here scooping poop.

Him: You'd rather be in the south of France scooping poop.

Me: No. I'd just rather be in the south of France. No poop.

Him: Cote d'Azur?

Me: That will do.

About sums it up.

Peace, Comfort And A Rhyme

2010-12-25T09:02:00.000-06:00

A fire burned bright, a lovely sight.

A little nosh before dinner is always a winner.

The room is aglow, so no one would know, the manicotti came out of the oven too slow!

To end a wonderful night, an ice cream cake is sure to delight.

A new nutcracker stands tall, the envy of them all!

I wish you all Peace and Comfort.

Taking a Moment

2010-12-23T07:34:00.000-06:00

Snowstorm at night

Morning light

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Up A Tree

2010-12-20T13:23:00.000-06:00

Or is it the tree is up.....finally.
The little tree is brought in and placed in the stand. Some of my blogging friends have been doing tree posts, so I thought I would as well.

How much easier this is than those very tall trees I used to buy. No falling over. No fights. No muss, no fuss. Sometimes a person does get wiser with age, but what I really think it is, is the body starts to refuse and the mind just has to finally give in. But getting wiser seems a good cover for getting old!

Howard is keeping a vigil. He doesn't want to miss Santa Claus and the bag of biscuits. I told him it's too soon, but he wants to be thorough.

I am done. It took me days to get this little tree finished.

It's snowing again. If you don't hear from me, I'm buried under a mountain of snow. Actually I am buried with work, so I won't be around for a little while. I need to get myself caught up, as the weather and the approaching holiday have overwhelmed my life. See you in a few.

A Recurring Theme

2010-12-17T08:25:00.000-06:00

My Winter Wonderland. And my wintry Mr. Wonderful, aka Zing.

I wrote something yesterday in response to a comment which has caused me to spend a little time contemplating that statement. I said I no longer thought that I, as an individual, made a difference anymore. I thought about that throughout the day, I thought this a statement someone who is accustomed to a certain amount of privilege would make. A person whom is used to their point of view being heard and mattering.

My life circumstances have changed some, but if I am open about it, I still have it easier than many. Our situation is more precarious than I would have ever thought it could be, but this reinforces my belief that most people are closer to the edge than they realize.

Now you would think this thinking would have put me deeper into my sadness, but it did not. Overall, we are all in this mess together, some of us simply don't know it yet. The only way we are going to get out of the mess is to come together. I do not believe we will enjoy life in a banana republic. I, for one, have too much to lose.

So, I am going to stop wallowing. I will limit my exposure to the madness going on around me, but I will not give up. Grassroots movement is the only answer to an incredible situation. The workings are there, it's just a matter of moving. The alternative is to buy a Panama hat.

A Short Read

2010-12-16T12:32:00.000-06:00

Put in a nutshell, why I am so very sad.

article

Because

2010-12-16T08:41:00.000-06:00

It is what we have.

It really is beautiful. I know there are those of you out there whom have never experienced winter as I know it. The frozen landscape is foreign, as recognizable as the terra of the moon. This year, as I am struggling with sadness I find the beauty of my landscape comforting. There is a peace about it which slows my mind a bit and causes me to stop fretting for a time. It allows for the quiet joy of watching the horses, tails up, prancing and snorting as they make their way through the deep, fluffy whiteness of their pastures. I laugh out loud when they come to the gate wanting in, faces covered with snow from rooting around in it like small children.

I believe I will put up a Christmas tree this year. I have displayed my little collection of nutcrackers, which has sparked an interest in decorating. Even a heathen such as myself can enjoy a pretty tree. Today seems perfect for venturing out to the tree lot in the small town a couple of miles from home. We are having a beautiful snowfall, everything is covered in down. Straight out of a Currier & Ives print.

Enough of my dusty musings, it's time to get myself up and out to face the day. The good part is, I get to watch those marvelous beasts play like happy children as they romp in the new snow. They really are amazing; they notice everything and they will know the snow is fresh and ripe for rolling about in. Then jumping up and chasing the nearest victim, just because.

My Land, Wish It Were Your Land?

2010-12-13T12:12:00.000-06:00

What I did on Sunday. ALL DAY. A couple of feet of snow that needed to be cleared while the wind hitting my poor old self was -30 F. It's not all soup and bread!

And this is what money going up in smoke looks like. Vapor from the furnace. It was -10 this morning, but it feels brutal. Happy Days on the Farm!

Don't Try This At Home

2010-12-13T09:16:00.000-06:00

I am not an eventer and I know very little about the sport and the people who are in it, but I came across this video and thought it would be fun for others to watch. Consider how fit and focused the horses that compete at this level must be. It is long, about 12 minutes, but it's fun. At least I think so. The rider likes his horse and calls him by name throughout the ride. You can see him patting the animal's neck several times. The horse's name is Henny and the rider says it often in encouragement and appreciation.

A Mighty Blow, With Snow

2010-12-11T13:29:00.001-06:00

We are having a full-fledged blizzard. It's been awhile since we've had the combination of light, airy snow and strong winds. I can't see anything but white beyond the spruce. There are areas where it has drifted so that the snow is up around Mark's thigh. Mark always thinks of the dogs, so short stuff, aka Howard, can get out via the path Mark shoveled for him.

The weather makes me want soup, so I put together a vegetable/bean/barley soup for lunch. It was good, even if I do say so myself. I used some of the frozen zucchini from my garden, now a distant memory.

This is what a screen looks like when it is cold and snowy. When warm and full of good food, it is easy to find beauty in something so harsh. The dogs, horses and people on the farm are snuggly holed up inside. The very elderly barn cat, Lucy, has her mound of hay in the loft that she burrows into to keep warm. She must be a very smart cat, as she is as old as Margaret and has lived her entire life in the barn. Those kitties rarely reach a geriatric age.

We are in for some severe weather over the next couple of days. We will all be trapped inside until the deepfreeze breaks its hold. Of course, there are the trips to the barn, but they hardly count. Except at the moment when my face nearly cracks open as I walk up the incline to the house, full on into the deeply below zero wind. Ah, my. You've gotta love it. So we Minnesotans talk about how hardy we are, instead of openly admitting someone, somewhere along the way, made a terrible mistake settling this land. They must have come here in June or September, because those are the only two months that I could understand someone thinking it would be a good idea to live in a cabin, wind whistling through the chinks, with nothing but a fire to warm the place.

It is strangely beautiful. From the warmth of the house.

Two Dog Night

2010-12-09T10:46:00.002-06:00

Twilight, cold, and the dogs needed to play. Howard long ago learned he cannot keep pace with Grace, so he wisely stands at the alert as she speeds around the yard. If she comes within a reasonable distance, he will dart out at her, hoping he can at least touch her. She is fast.

The joy of running; She literally bursts with it as she races the yard. Howard is a living, breathing cartoon, which tends to overshadow the greyhound, but he is almost invisible when Grace runs. Of the greyhounds I have had, this is the fastest and she is the one who exalts in the race. Odd, as she is from show lines and the others were racers. I wish I could bottle what she has when she is at speed. She enters complete, total happiness. And it is the one time the little stub is left without a plan.

This old gal has decided that anything soft is meant for her laying pleasure. She believes with advanced age comes privilege. This is what greeted the dogs and me when we came in from their play. I had dropped some things on the kitchen table that I intended to put in a bag for giving away. Nothing like a cat in repose on the table. I am not one who allows the cat on the counters and such. But the old lady has decided she will take her pleasure wherever she finds it. Perhaps it is a lesson I should heed myself.

I could learn something from all three of them. Accepting my limitations and exercising patience whilst I wait for an opportunity, as is Howard's way. Rejoicing in what I do well and expressing the happiness it gives me, ala Grace. And doing what I damned well please and offering up no apology, as my wise old Margaret so gracefully does.

Now if I could also sleep away half of the day, as do they, I might be onto something.

Out In The Cold

2010-12-05T09:54:00.001-06:00

It is a cold morning; -2 degrees Fahrenheit when I got up this morning and currently 8 degrees. My little patch of frozen land is cold and beautiful. We will be out in the barn all day. Injury and illness have put the work behind. I have been keeping up with the basics only.

Getting up to such a cold morning caused me to make a nice pot of minestrone to have for lunch. We need something warm and fortifying to get us through the day.

I will back to visiting my blogging friends next week. Life is backed up and I don't like it when my world starts to lose its' bearings. My knee is better and Mark is getting better, so life picks up where we left off. Now it's time to venture out and start pitching!

Lost

2010-12-04T08:10:00.000-06:00

I believe I have lost my voice.

I am sorry for my unexplained absence. I have had nothing to say and I have not had the impetus needed for me to try to engage in what others are saying. In short, I believe I am despondent and need the time to get myself back.

I read too much. I am very worried about the future and the daily news does not help my cause. So I have put myself to the work on my farm and little else.

We had a beautiful snowfall overnight. I will be spending considerable time plowing us out, but the beauty of the landscape is worth it. The horses will appreciate the cushioning it provides, as the frozen, rutted ground was hard on the feet. I appreciate the lift it gives my spirit.

I am thankful for the kind people who check on my welfare. As I have mentioned in the past, I lead a somewhat isolated life and winter only increases the solitude, so it is welcome when someone wonders what has happened to me. I am alive, I am well. I'm just bummed.

Unprepared

2010-11-13T10:45:00.000-06:00

For this.

We awoke this morning to heavy, wet snow. And it is still snowing at quite a pace. We should not be unprepared, we live in Minnesota. And it was predicted.

But yesterday was spent working hard in the barn and not thinking about the impending storm.

I am feeling better, but wouldn't you know ~ I slipped on the back deck this morning, did the splits as I landed on my knees and heard a tearing sound at my right knee. Getting old is hell. I have a heat patch and a standing wrap (horse equipment) wrapping my knee. The day will be spent in the recliner, I believe.

Other than that, life is okay. I always enjoy the first snowfall. I think it is one of nature's beautiful sights. I think this for a day or two. Then it becomes god's forsaken frozen land. But the first, it's beautiful.

So, it is painful sitting here and I hear the recliner calling my name. Really, I did not need to wreck my knee to spend the day in a chair.

If You Have The Time

2010-11-09T08:53:00.000-06:00

spend some of it reading this article.

article

November Third

2010-11-03T08:24:00.001-05:00

We are watching the unraveling of a nation.

My heart is so heavy this morning I want to burst into tears. It is hard for me to understand how America became this thing that it is. How did we, as a people, become so cruel, harsh and mind numbingly ignorant? How did we become the people, who in two short years decide to put the very people who got us into this trouble in the first place, back into power? Let us see what happens as these self-professed budget hawks push extended tax cuts for the mega rich, adding to the great black hole of the deficit they profess so much concern about. Let us watch as they continue to support the largest, wealthiest multi-national corporations off-shoring their corporate headquarters to post office boxes in the Caymans, freeing them from paying any federal income taxes as they continue to put their hands out for federal subsidies. Let us watch as the Democratic Senate and President cave in on almost everything. Let us get used to high unemployment and low wages. We have a new normal.

So as the rest of the world moves forward, we will go backward. We will doggedly hang onto our myth of rugged individualism. We will continue to talk about our freedom, our Constitution, our uniqueness. And we will continue down the path we have been following for thirty years. The path which has led us to joblessness, poverty, insecurity, debt, fear. We will continue in our blind belief that the titians of industry and finance, the masters of the universe will allow us to grab hold of their coattails. We will continue to believe in a free market driven economy. We will continue to believe the mantra that all taxation is bad. We will continue to believe that cutting costs, cutting government, privatizing everything, is in the best interest of the people. And as the weight of this belief bears down on us, as it crushes our lives, we will continue to look at the other, the people who are not 'us' and bring all of the forces of our fears and frustrations down upon them.

It is my opinion we have cooked our own goose.

God help America.

Oh Well

2010-10-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

It's a windy and rainy day in the northland. I thought a lovely bouquet of tulips are in order.

I have not been very active lately. I will admit I am not feeling well. More than the bad cold I have had. Fortunately, I live in America where we have the best healthcare money can buy. Which is why I have held off going to the doctor, because money is the key component in our remarkably ignorant system.

I will need to part with some of our dearly earned and dwindling greenbacks. You know, I live so close to Canada that I wonder if I could get an honorary citizenship. I'll behave. I won't pollute your civil society with a rugged individualism myth or assail your ears with fear, freedom and talk of the marketplace taking care of everything. I'll quietly sip my tea and be grateful.

Is This What We Have Come To?

2010-10-20T12:07:00.004-05:00

Due to a Supreme Court ruling in February, corporations have the right to free speech, meaning they may funnel as much money into the political forum as they see fit and they may do it anonymously. This group got an amendment on the Colorado ballot essentially banning all abortions. No one will know who is funding this.

This is not about abortion, but rather how far we have gone, becoming increasingly extreme not only in our views, but in our expression of said views. This is the sitting President of the United States. I was taught to respect the office, if not always the holder of the title. Obviously there are no lines which cannot be crossed. And just as obvious, it seems there are no limits to the number of people willing to cross them.

I fear for us. I really do.

Pay attention the quote by Jefferson. Funny how the living, breathing life, the life which has been born holds no meaning to these very same people.

A Note

2010-10-11T07:35:00.001-05:00

Some people put all of their ducks in a row.

It seems I put all of my plants in a row.

This is the view I saw the other day as I lay in my chair suffering the insult of a very bad cold. Of course the weather has been gorgeous while I have been miserable. Not fair.

Anyway, this is a note to say I am still alive. I'm slowly getting better, but I don't have much energy. It really is amazing how a 'simple' cold can put a person off their feet.

Sunshine, Soup & Sneezy

2010-10-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Mark and I are both under-the-weather.

Shelley Paulson Photo

It hardly seems fair. We are having absolutely beautiful fall days and we are both down for the count. We generally have better timing; he gets sick, then I get sick. Never at the same time. It makes for nothing getting done. I would not want anyone looking into my barn right now. A poor opinion of my horse-keeping would be had. Not to be helped, though. I'm now old enough to know better. The work will keep. I need to lay low so I can get back on my feet sooner. No more, the days of dragging myself along by the self-placed ring in my nose, valiantly attempting to do too much and only succeeding in prolonging my misery.

I have a stock pot of chicken wings on the stove which will eventually become chicken soup, my cure for all that ails me. Other than that and the basics for the beasties, I am taking to my recliner with some chamomile tea and remaining there for the day.

I will return to my bright, cheery self ☼ soon, I'm sure. But for now it will be a box of kleenex and a droopy me. And a beautiful day taunting me through the window glass.

From Howard's Perspective

2010-10-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

Howard leads a very hard life.

Don't tell anyone.

More Than Scrambled Eggs

2010-10-05T12:54:00.001-05:00

I'm going to try a new weekly feature.

I received this book as a gift the year it was first published, 1991. I have used it as a reference over the years, but I never actually used it as a learning tool. This is the first entirely English language cookbook published by Le Cordon Bleu. There are over 100 recipes and very detailed instruction.

I am not going to try to duplicate what Julie of Julie & Julia did on her blog, heaven forbid. I don't have the time, energy or interest for that. I simply thought it might be fun to prepare one of the menus once a week. I thought I would arbitrarily pick by opening a page. I would then post the results here. My intention is to cook on Sunday, but my life does not usually follow routine, so this may not always be possible. But I will try.

So with a tip of the hat to my Cordon Bleu trained friend Allegra, and to Elizabeth who is also trained and is married to a chef, I will bring the total amateur's approach and attempt to food preparation via the French method.

I have chosen my first menu, which is considered intermediate. It isn't too complicated. I think this is a good thing!

Here is to fabulous food and the fun of preparing it. I hope.

What We Really Are

2010-10-03T08:01:00.003-05:00

This is the real face of America.

Photo: Michael Reynolds

Yesterday there was a march on Washington by a group called "One Nation Working Together". This was organized by a coalition of groups ranging from labor to civil rights.

This photo is starkly different from the images put in front of us, seemingly daily, of the supposed overwhelmingly powerful Tea Party. This is the real America. This is what scares the bejesus out of the "take our country back" crowd. An America that is diverse. And engaged.

I really wanted to go. The local progressive radio station chartered busses and set up packages including a hotel. I could not find anyone to travel with me, so in the end I stayed home and watched on C-Span. There is nothing more lonely than being alone in a crowd.

What I want to say is, take heart my fellow sane and reasonable Americans. We outnumber them. We simply need to engage ourselves and not give up. We cannot give up, for what will be fraught upon us if we do will be terrible. We have seen behind the curtain and what we saw is horrible. Let us not go there. Please. Get up.

Vote.

Smell of Smoke, Crunch of Leaves

2010-10-01T08:10:00.000-05:00

Hello October

Where did you come from?

What happened to September? It seems I went to bed on August 31st and woke up on October 1st. Where did the time go? I think perhaps I live in a black hole and it periodically eats my time. That must be it.

This is our easing into it month. The between time. Buffering for a moment the long stretch ahead. The frozen time. Like the squirrels, we start to gather and store for the time ahead of us. We are not so far removed from our beginning, our bodies tell us to store calories to ensure our survival over the frozen days; the urge is strong and deeply rooted in our northern DNA. I find comfort in this. It is my location in life which has helped get me to my plump self. That must be it.

So it starts. The maple trees are ablaze with their fiery glory. The ivy is burning red along the fence. The roses are having their last hurrah before the frost touches their blossoms, telling them it's time for bed. And I enjoy the in between. Knowing what is coming; savoring what is now. Eating mashed potatoes and gravy. Baking bread. Life can be good. That must be it.

Morning Guest

2010-09-27T07:07:00.000-05:00

Look who came to visit yesterday morning. Someone must have told him fleas are on the menu.

I have seen a Pileated Woodpecker only a handful of times in my life and all of those sightings have been since I have lived in this house. It is hard to realize how large they are from the photo, but they are big. I took the photo through the window and when I tried to sneak outside, off he went!

I am hopeful my flea control marathon is over. I fogged once more yesterday, as well as applied Frontline to the dogs and cat. I learned a hard lesson about the less expensive topical control products. They do not work. Had I spent the money in the beginning I likely would have saved myself a lot of effort and cash in the end. Of course, Woody could have come for breakfast a couple of weeks ago.

If I have indeed conquered the flea, I will be back online on a regular basis. Fall is in the air, lots of projects need doing, but after the past week, I think I can do my daily work and talk to my blogging friends. Whodda thought I had it in me. ☼

A busy morning ahead. The farrier as well as the equine dentist will be here. Ever see money fly? It will be today on the farm! But these guys are an important part of the horse care equation. So with a tentative smile on my face, I will greet the first (hopefully) flea-free day in a couple of weeks and get to it.

I hope your day is a good one.

Taken To Her Bed

2010-09-25T07:38:00.000-05:00

I did not do it.

It's those mangy dogs.

Report From The Battleground

2010-09-24T11:30:00.001-05:00

Would you know? Could you tell?

This tranquil little craftsman style bungalow in rural Minnesota has been the site of an epic battle of man (or in this case, woman) versus invasive insect.

And here is one of the collaborating beasts. Yes my friends, we had fleas.

The past two weeks have consumed my every waking hour, as well as many when I should have been peacefully sleeping. I have had house pets all of my life, as a child as well as my entire adult life. Therefore, I have had, on occasion, fleas. I have never had an infestation, even when I lived in that bug haven, Atlanta.

I have been led to the conclusion that these nasty bits of pestilence are becoming immune to the chemicals commonly used to curb their prolific breeding ways. I could not get rid of them, which allowed those busy females to lay their twenty-five eggs per day. Yes indeed, I know how many eggs a female flea lays in a day. I know how long it takes for the eggs to hatch and the larvae to mature into a flea. I know more about fleas than I care to.

In the end, I have gained the upper hand by steam cleaning every surface in the house, meticulous vacuuming, fogging, constant washing of bedding and clothing. Twice daily showers and frequent bathing of dogs and poor Margaret the Cat. Thrice daily combing with a flea comb and using flea collars. Spot on treatment did not work. Manual labor has been my only choice and eventual salvation from the virulent bloodsucking vermin.

So my friends, this is why I have been absent. I am still in the midst of this, I have my office left to steam clean, I'm still capturing a few eggs and immature fleas in the comb and I plan to fog one more time. But I feel I am just about able to plant my flag of victory.

I fought the flea. I believe I have won. Now to have a long talk with Howard and Grace about sticking their noses into places they do not belong.

Eat. Work. And A Ghost.

2010-09-14T08:02:00.001-05:00

Can you tell we are having Fall weather. Food is once again on my mind.

A little bit of grass fed top round steak covered with sauteed mushrooms. As Julia Child said, I did not crowd the mushrooms! Accompanied by a melange of vegetables and baked sweet potato fries. Ummm, ummm GOOD!

Do you think I have ghosts? Sometimes what comes out of my camera causes me to wonder!

It is another beautiful day that will be filled with work. Somehow I don't mind laboring when it is a lovely day. Anyone wanting to share the day and the labor, well I do have a fine collection of manure forks.........

Jackie? Helen? Or Ma Kettle?

2010-09-13T15:21:00.002-05:00

This is what happens when your computer has a camera.

Someone decides to try out the Jackie O look. Or perhaps it's Helen Gurley Brown. I don't think either of those stylish women would have been been caught on a bet in my oh-so-not-stylish barn tee shirt!

I went to a training clinic on Friday that is a western discipline, reining. I planned to take my temperamental Lipizzan/Arabian gelding along, but he thought not and wouldn't get himself into the trailer. As it turned out, he was much wiser than I.

Although it was interesting and it is a very popular thing among stock horse as well as Arabian owners, it would most definitely not been up Ari's alley. He-of-lightness-and-sensitivity would not have enjoyed being kicked, nor would he have liked to have his mouth pulled hard to create a sliding stop. I took this photo at the end of the day. I saw a row of snoozing horses. It captures how hard they all worked during the day.

This leads to the end of the day, after we left Wisconsin and I had dropped Kristina off at her apartment. She lives in the neighborhood I left when I moved to the country nearly twenty years ago. It was right at the peak rush hour time, so I decided to spend sometime in the area. How much has changed and how firmly it was reenforced that you really cannot go home again.

Hip; urbane; crowded; upscale; pretentious; aggressive. The reality now. My quaint, quiet urban oasis is not what it used to be. I walked around like the rube I have become. I think my mouth literally was agape. I needed a few groceries, so I stopped in the place I used to shop. I could barely make my way through the aisles. Unfriendly hipsters, upscale soccer moms and a palpable sense of stress. No eye contact. Perhaps I was the only one no one would look at, as I am sure I not only obviously looked out of place, I probably smelled out of place as well! I was, after all, just a half an hour removed from the place in the photo.

It was a surprise to me that I would not want to live there again. I had thought I could, but I realize not so much.

Perhaps if I had practiced my look beforehand? Unlikely. I now realize I own it, so I may as well wear it with pride. I am a rube. ☺