Saturday, September 28, 2024

Saturday


Granddaughter #2 had her eighth birthday this week and the birthday party for her friends is today.

She asked her Papa to hang the pinata from our maple tree.


It will be in pieces later this afternoon.


I have had two pots of this geranium variety on my front porch all summer.  I'd like to have it next year, too so thought I'd try rooting some stems.

Five jars and five stems.  


They are sitting on the guest room chest of drawers, not in direct sun, but where there is a southern exposure. 

Wish me luck.

Friday, September 27, 2024

A Word from Jennifer

 

They candidly acknowledge: “Much of the leadership of today’s Republican Party has joined the cult of Trump, and we know that they will care little for what we have to say.” The former state chairs nevertheless call on the better angels of the nature of “many honest, hardworking, principled people who — more than any party label — want what is best for our state and nation.” The group ends by paraphrasing another Republican Harris endorser, former Georgia lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan: “On Nov. 5, be a patriot.”

If nothing else, the 2024 election has sharply delineated the Republican patriots from the cultists, the democracy lovers from the authoritarians and the courageous from the spineless.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Postcards

 I finally got my 100 postcards from MomsRising.org to write a note on to encourage women to vote.

These will go in the mail on October 9th.

These are going to 9 different states: GA, FL, MI, MN, NC, OH, PA, WA, & WI.

p.s. thanks to Vicki for suggesting a message.  I used a version of hers instead of one of the suggested ones.



Sunday, September 22, 2024

Do You Know Why this Season is Called Fall?

 


Just look at the ground under this tree to answer that question.

Above taken 9/20.

Below same tree on 9/2



Saturday, September 21, 2024

Jennifer Rubin says it Best

from The Washington Post

September 20, 2024

by Jennifer Rubin

Distinguished persons of the week

Seventeen Reagan administration veterans wrote a public letterendorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. “President Ronald Reagan famously spoke about a ‘Time for Choosing.’ While he is not here to experience the current moment, we who worked for him in the White House, in the administration, in campaigns and on his personal staff, know he would join us in supporting the Harris-Walz ticket,” the letter began. The Reagan alumni continued: “The choice between truth and lies demands support for Harris-Walz. The choice between freedom and suppression of freedoms means support for Harris-Walz. The choice between serving the people and serving the few leads us to support Harris-Walz.”

While acknowledging their statement is “less about supporting the Democratic Party and more about our resounding support for democracy,” they gave a shout out to alumni of the George W. Bush administration and of the McCain and Romney presidential campaigns who previously endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket. The Reagan alumni concluded: “It’s our hope that this letter will signal to other Republicans and former Republicans that supporting the Democratic ticket this year is the only path forward toward an America that is strong and viable for our children and grandchildren for years to come.”

Public statements from batches of Republicans — as well as individual endorsements from Republicans such as former Illinois congressmen Adam Kinzinger and former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney — help us track the list of decent Republicans who might create a responsible, center-right, post-MAGA party. They will have their work cut out for them given the overwhelming number of elected Republicans and right-wing pundits whose moral cowardice and twisted priorities prompt them to stick with Trump, even in the wake of Trump’s defamation against Haitians.

****

If there are any tRump supporters reading this blog, how can you in good conscience still support this man and think he will serve your interests if he is elected? 

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Light from the West

 Looking east with the sun lighting up this maple tree in our yard.


I don't think my iPhone camera does justice to the colors showing in this tree.


I even selected vivid but still it looks more muted than it does to my eye.  Is there another setting on the iPhone I need to select?

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Some Funnies





Thanks to friend, Marilyn, for sharing.

 

Monday, September 16, 2024

Fruit Flies

 Every year at some time I have to make a fruit fly trap.

A wide mouth jar, cider vinegar, and a cone of paper.



I made this one and within an hour I had fruit flies trapped.


A simple solution!

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Jennifer Rubin Says it Well

from the Washington Post, September 13, 2024

by Jennifer Rubin

Two revealing surveys of religious groups in the United States 

Friday, September 13, 2024

Cherry Tomatoes

 The CSA that daughter Emily and I share has a plethora of cherry tomatoes.  I had a bowlful and decided to roast them with garlic, basil, salt and paper and olive oil.  400º for 25 minutes.

It smelled delicious.


An easy supper then with cheese filled tortellini tossed with the tomatoes.  Sprinkle on parmesan cheese and serve.


Dan and I didn't finish all of it so another day I'll call it pasta salad!

Thursday, September 12, 2024

"Foliage Experts Predict a Colorful Fall"

 That was the title of an article in Wednesday's local paper.  The reasons given for the high expectations for color are several. 

A good growing season.

No fungal diseases like last year when the rains wouldn't stop.

A mild winter and long season has meant trees have stored up energy.



Ideal weather conditions for foliage include warm days and cool nights which are all in our weather forecasts.






But and there's always a hedge.  If we have storms and heavy winds into the peak the leaves can be stripped.

Photos from my walk on Wednesday morning.  The colors are starting.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

One Year Ago

 

We were in Spain, specifically Priego do Cordoba, in southern Spain.

Remembering those two weeks and sharing some random photos.

















We had an apartment in the Barrio and lived like locals for our stay there courtesy of UnTours.  Everywhere you looked in the landscape were rows and rows of olive trees.  Did you notice them in some of the photos?

***

Today I'm a ballot clerk for our township.  It's primary day.  I'm on duty 8 am - 7 pm while the polls are open.  I don't know if I'll be doing this on November 5th too as I'm taking someone's place who normally does it.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Found on a Car in VA


 My brother in law in Charlottesville, Va captured this on the back of a car at the grocery store.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Observation

 

 

The goldenrod is in full bloom along this fence line. 

Here’s my observation-apple trees along the road sides. Were they planted there or are they volunteers?


This one has been here for quite awhile. 


It’s loaded with apples. 

Do you see apple trees along the roads where you are?

Friday, September 6, 2024


Love thy neighbor. No exceptions. That is Faithful America’s motto, and that is the work that Faithful America members like me give ourselves to both online and in our communities. Our faith informs our politics – not the other way around.  We oppose Donald Trump, Christian nationalism, and the religious right because of the ways they attack love and social justice. To us, loving our neighbor means caring for the most vulnerable around us, looking out for those who have been marginalized by unjust leaders and systems. To learn more about Faithful America and how you can organize to love your neighbors with other social-justice Christians, visit Faithful America. 

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

 

This year’s False Prophets list is headlined by  none other than Donald “Dictator on Day One” Trump himself – also known as the Christofascist MAGA movement’s golden calf. It seems Trump really was right about one thing: He truly could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and not lose any of his support from the religious right. This is what Scripture calls idolatry. To read more about Trump’s blasphemous record and his followers’ idolatrous devotion, visit Faithful America’s False Prophets Page here.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Garden Art

If you've read my blog for awhile you know I like to place or make items to put in my gardens.  The shutter angel, an old iron wheel,
 

rock statues, or an old gate. I also have two old hand plows.



Last Saturday there was an estate sale around the corner. Sadly the owner of the house is no longer living.  Several years ago he was shot and killed doing a good deed for a friend in Woodstock, VT.  The house has been empty since then mostly because the heirs live in Toronto. For the estate sale the neighbors ran it.  One of those name your price sales.  I went looking for garden art.  Here's what I came home with;


and you can see they went right into the garden.


This next item was on an outside door.  I thought it looked like an owl.  It's really the foot from a cast iron stove.



Dan put it on my garden door on the barn.


Not pictured because they are still in my barn are a single andiron, a black coal or ash pail and two rectangular pieces of slate.  I also got a pair of brass candle sticks (not pictured either).

This is the last thing I got - a table for the porch.  I think it will be a good spot for a flower pot or a pumpkin.  I may spray paint the base to match our porch chairs.


I spent $30 for all of this.

There were lots of people there both days.  All the tools, lumber, and equipment were a big draw.  I wonder what will happen next for this house.