tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40441442619936311122024-03-13T10:31:34.817-07:00Mossback ToughI have always wanted to be a pioneer. Prepping was a way to make one's life even. It has been hard on old army man and me. We love living our dream, love homesteading. I love to cook, can, raise livestock, garden, farm, and learn how to do things. Ask a question, I may give your pc answers or I may lay out the answer in old logging world glandular. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-77537800861913134162014-01-28T01:10:00.001-08:002014-01-28T01:12:58.971-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Life we live it to meet a goal yet do we live along the way? I found that out tonight. Old Army Man found an invite to a pizza party tomorrow, asked if my schedule allowed me to attend, yes, so now I am giddy. How long has it been just coming home after work or staying home and doing the day in day out stuff which has become boring. Not that I do not enjoy the even tone but the idea of going out on a Tuesday to a city 45 miles away has brought great joy to my life. I have not been attending any support groups, AA meetings, or church-community related events or groups in years. Not even work related educational hours earning monthly meetings have I been attending. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The 29th of December my husband's only child died, 23 yr old young men should not be dying prior to their fathers. I had prior to the son death been making sure Dear Old Army Man felt needed, then following this loss I have <strike>been arranging to have</strike> encouraging him have lunch or travel to see friends, email, or other contacts from his support groups beyond me as I cannot be his everything. When he goes to see or talk to the people outside of me he has new news, stories, or insights to share. I find it a win win for me as he gets to bring the news home to me during the tax season when I am out of the house hours and hours each week. Grief is handled different by each of us I am told yet there are steps that all go though in grieving. Old Army Man has been telling better puns these last few weeks. I have been finding myself laughing more at his quips. I like this man who pups bubbles of laughter into my life. I turn to look at him and the smile creeps out slowly brightening his whole face. I was not close to his son. The mother asked I keep away from her son. The mother was I respected this the best I coudld, until her death 4 years ago. Then the son who had been more indoctrinated than the average person in that her family was ¨good¨ and everyone else she did not tell you was part of her life was not. I was not on her list. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was the spawn of bad people in turn my children were walking reflections of me. The pot smoking druggie who spent time in prison yet turned his life around as he grew into an adult, nor the middle son who used meth, heroin, pain killer taking young man who got clean was tattooed so he was a scum bag just for dumb choices he made in his pre-25 years old self tat sleeves, my youngest was a girl who did not date often therefore she was a nerd, cause she was tech savoy, carried a B+ grades however her worse was she enjoyed spending time with my husband acting as a family. Eating at the dinner table, going to movies together, or even day trips to events DD was awful as you can see never should he spend time around her. I think the worse of it was the first night DD and step son spent and evening together the mom of the step son flipped as we had a fire going with 6 teenage girls that spent time giggle, teasing, and having good clean fun outside until 10:30 pm with us outside too around the fire keeping an eye on everyone so no to people of the apposing sex were out of the firelight or left alone on a warmish balmy September Friday night. The next morning the boy's mother called him for the 10th time in 16 hours and told the boy she was coming to pick him up as she was going to take him to his favorite restaurant and the movie he wanted to see. That boy never go to spend another night at our house cause I was a bad influence. This women was at least three types of crazy. She would drive onto my lawn, doing circles in the large side yard, diving over anything we had there, she would drive up our driveway and take pictures of what we were doing then drive back out, or she would stop in front of our home to just sit and stare. Then there was the times she would break into our home and take stuff. We would call the police and they would tell us it was a domestic issue. WE took her to court and we ended up being told we were to leave her alone as she had a right in the street that no one would be crazy enough to break into our home and take stuff, nor were we to contact the mother again or the son unless the son called Old Army Man. That women could twist the truth and tell lies without batting an eye. I would tell the judge or police the truth and be told I was lying and to act more like an adult. Heck, a couple years after the mother died the son called, arranged dinner with his dad, softly laughing about the crazy things his mother did to his dad and I. I did manage to pray for this gal enough that I ended up forgiving her prior to her early death. I was happy I had taken the time to work on forgiving her so I had no unfinished issues. The son I had thought there would be more time. I know the boy was brain washed, leaving the young man just as bewildered in what to believe especially with his mother taking her own life once things were published in the newspaper about the secrets she had been hiding. The drugs and alcohol she had been selling and providing to minors, her own use, her needing to report to jail in 10 days, then to find out we had paid all the back child support off and she would no longer have a hold over her ex-husband plus all that she had done did not cause us to break up. I was in the wrong not divorcing her ex-husband then him remarriage to her as she had told thefairy tail to her son. This women after divorcing my husband in 1993 moved back into her parents home her room was in the basement the son's was in the second floor near the grandparents room. The mother would invite her boyfriend over then they would announce that they wanted to be alone until they came up for air cause they wanted to have sex, did I tell you that she had no door on her room, that if you opened the door to go into the basement were the food pantry was along with the washer and dryer and the rest of the family would giggle and jest about the amount of noise they made. The son heard this often plus she would flaunt it in front of my husband to the point he told her and the other members of her family he would not come into their house again as he did not support or endorse her actions or behavior. The family was the main focus of their lives not bad thing but it was not a healthy family once behind the doors. The grandmother had an ongoing affair with a man for over 20 years, the grandfather with at least one long term affair gal for over 20 that my OAM knew of and many one night stands. Then the ex-wife's </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>actively open to close friends and family gay school teaching teen boys basketball couch </i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">brother let me take these men to my room which I have lived at home in the same small about 8 by 10 room all 60 years of his life one twin bed, one dresser, no more room for anything else room for a bedroom. There was a son who left and became something of a someone but he was not welcomed home as he had no children nor did he want to visit often there fore he was a black sheep of the family. This three ways of crazy gal even went so far as to change my husband's only son of an only son name to her family name to hurt my husband and to bond her with her egotistical tyrannical domestically abusing- mentally, physically, and sexually- father who wanted his family name to carry on. Oh, I was tainted bad just not as bad as the secrets this family was trying to keep from others. This grandfather was powerful in the family name cause he had severed on some of the city elected communities, been involved with education leadership of their local school district. The family did not follow a God based religious vent more of a cult in their religious following. Yet I was the bad one in the young man's way of thinking. He had been told from the time he was three years old that my husband had divorced her not the truth she had divorced him thus the mom kept the pity of the son based on her, on how she had been abandoned, left to raise a son alone so she had to move home to raise him under the <strike>watchful</strike> helping financially ( she was employed and gave up a 20 plus hour a job to move back home earning little to nothing), opening loving (yea the son just did not know it was loving anything that would stand still for the old man to man handle or ¨score" with female or the her mother mother who falsely took vacations without her husband the same week her partner would take a vacation without his wife) parents she had to help her raise a delightful wonderful child that he was meant to become so she could work in an adult book store so she could score either sex parties she and her long term lover loved attending or the way she spent the child's inheritance on herself more than him the grandmother had left in the mom's charge so the son could make something of himself. Oh yea she has spent over 250 K on eating out, trips, awful clothing that looked like she was stuck in the 80's dance scene, hair dyes, hair cuts, retreats, spas, some jewelry, rentals or purchased of things to make them look good on the outside to people looking in in 10 years. Alas more people saw her for what she was rather than the carefully crafted image she thought she and her family was thinking they were keeping up. Then once she learned that her part of the farce was up she could not face the future without the knowledge she was somehow better than she was in reality. The lose of her so close to the loss of his grandfather was just too much on top of the awful operations that went sour on this young man leading to him being disabled for the rest of his life and hooked on pain killers leading to other dependencies- alcohol, other drugs, temper tampers with every altercation he had with the police. He was too sick for the jail to keep him so they kept releasing him, feeling sorry for the young man with the disabilities he had been left with following the surgery. Oh how weary a life we live when the chips start to fall from our image as our true selves emerge from behind the false front we thought would protect us. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I wonder what false images I still have to overcome to be the true me. What lies have I been telling myself and maybe others? What will be in my future to learn more about who and where I need to head to not be false to myself and others. Lord love me today and tomorrow for what I am and what I think I am trying to do good in my life and the other lives I touch. Keep my children safe, watch over the grandchildren, and keep those and others we love safe in your love, Amen. </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-8987584371635727422013-07-20T16:26:00.001-07:002013-07-20T16:26:19.377-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is a day of beginnings. I am at a place in my life were I am beginning to doubt myself, beginning to change the way I do things, have begun to put new ways into doing things these last few weeks. Ol' Army guy is in deep trouble. He has massive amounts of seepage in his eyes from high blood sugar and high blood pressure maybe caused by heart episode he had in May. We had been trying to things in our house sense May to begin a change. More beans less meat, less fat, more broil or boil, less pop more tea, you see the trend. Ol' Army guy just does not want to give up his meat and corn/potato/starch meals for stir fries, tofu, or hummus and baked chips. He is not wanting to try new vegetables, he will not give up his head lettuce for romaine or leaf lettuces. He is reading up on corn, gmo's, and how adding fruits and veggies helps a body. <br />
<br />
To tell you the truth I am not far behind Ol' Army guy in health issues in many ways. Higher than normal blood sugar, less energy, no muscle to walk far, and a great deal more weight than a body should ever have to deal with in any way one can think of. Hell it happened one day at a time now to change it back one day at a time too. at 404 lbs. I am a big girl, a person who is really more round than upright. I still have muscle just not what I use to have. I love and hate that my Ol' Army guy never really tells me I look awful but then he does not touch me but a few times a year for sex either. He tells me it is from all the meds he is on I am beginning to think it is also easier for him to say that than to tell me I do not turn his dick hard any longer. In the end it is a mixed together and leads us into good friends who sleep together category. Funny thing is I know what to do when I am overweight just do not know what to do to not be overweight. I mean thinking ways not just more energy, more freedom to go to movies and church where I can seat in the seats. I mean what does one think of to get thin, stay thin, be thin. I have forgotten what it is to think that way without the confusion in the way. I purchased some sun dresses this year. I sure know now what I feel when I think I look really fat and really ugglee white trash fat look like inside. I do not want to leave the house, do not want to go into stores. I hate we do not have money to make this transition simple with an operation, or weight loss group. I am so lost so I take things one day at a time one step at a time. I am off to go get my ACV and stevia drink now. It is seeming to help me get different faster than anything so far. I will write more soon. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-22108750303778469522013-05-19T00:18:00.002-07:002013-05-19T00:18:19.750-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="userContent">1 Corinthians 13:4-8<br /> Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.</span><br />
<br />
These were the words my husband and I agreed to be read at our wedding. We were full of joy even being in our late 40s at being married to someone we loved to such a great degree. Well almost a decade as passed with life changing speed our lives were changed as well. Two things did us in both accidents both simple to recover from as kids not so simple now. Head trauma, pinched nerves, pain, loss of memories, physical limitations increased, weight gain, hair loss, increased falls all have played their part in our lives these last 3 years. What I want to say is the love has grown, the spirit still finds hope, today I love him with respect and dignity for his daily grind he does. I work hard at not doing much for him. To let him find what he can do and what he can figure out to do without as much help. I am here for him, I support him, I will not chip away at what regrowth of dignity I have seen him regain nor do I need to do things he can do. He is a man, he is due respect for what he does each and every day just to get out of bed. The pain, the falls, the lost of felling in extremities are enough for anyone to endure. There are days he walks with a cane pride fills me as I know what he has overcome to bring that cane out, there are days he does not need the cane yippy Skippy. He does this without pain killers which he does not want to become depend on, he does this without hot tubs or other sources to relieve his achiness. I remember how tall he stood and how proud he was of me. I will stand proud and recall his duty to himself he prides himself in. He is a gentleman who loves his spouse, wants to provide for her, take care of her, and be a gentleman to other women in which he comes in contact with each and over day. No cursing, not hitting, no fighting, no biting, what he does on those times I blow is he keeps quite and waits for the storm to blow over. There are safety words for him to use if I have crossed over the line in my tantrum to get me a fair warning I have crossed the line. Eight years ago today we shared with our family and friends the joy of our joining. Today I felt that joy again when I watched him sit in a saddle for the first time in many a year. He will live his dream so that his dream gives him a reason to live each day, face the day with hope and goals on why we get up each and over day in this old body we now endure even if it has been in an accident or two. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-17615327391529998442013-04-16T17:11:00.001-07:002013-04-16T17:19:11.859-07:00Sitting in the sun watching the wind move the leaves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #741b47;">Sitting here in the little office doing bookwork is wonderful. I can look out over about a third of my property spotting the horses, goats, wildlife, and the grass grow this time of year. Doves or whippoorwills eat seeds and bugs in the pen close to this window, spring sun shines in over where I sit making it very warm and cozy in this small room. Come summer I will see changes occur most noticeable will be the change in when I can sit in this room as it heats up so the shades come down and the window will get a cover to keep the sun from hitting it in the main part of the day. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">I am thinking of making an apple sausage, red pepper, onion, tomato, & pasta dish for dinner. I have not gotten to cook much this last tax season as 50-60 hour days wore me out most of the time. But simple foods are being craved by me right now. Soft scrambled eggs and ham with a simple sour dough bread toast and early salad greens. Stews served over rustic mashed potatoes with sliced apples for a sweet ending. Dan is wanting white bean and ham soup with cornbread and a salad. Chili served over baked potatoes with a veggie gelation side and a cookie. Tuna dinner salads with an avocado dressing and sliced bananas with a hit of cinnamon and sugar for desert. Quartered hard boiled eggs, radish, celery, and other finger veggies with a dip and slices of chocolate cake with chocolate icing and about a tablespoon of cream poured over the cake. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Some will shutter, but I know it is better to eat then to relapse into drinking again. I have been having dreams of relapse. Dreams I was hiding and drinking. Not good to wake up from then having to go check to make sure it was not real. Some of the locations cool- European and South American locals- were lovely, but the things I did drinking the hiding, was not good. Getting out from under the day in day out work of doing taxes- fear of mistakes, losing my job, causing someone pain due to an error, and other related fears do cause pain for me at times. I can still feel the stress of not being able to get everything done I said I would last time in a timely manner. Even my own return. Better be getting that mudra going, what was it again oh yea- Shit happens, so let it roll off your back. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Starting over to the every so often blog entries, returning to doing things I love cooking, homemaking, gardening, and just hearing the quite for a change. With Ol' Army Man going to school I will not have to spend all my time with him this spring and summer. I am looking forward to the change and to the quite reflecting time I will be able to have. Turn down the go-go-go he often has me in so I keep up with his stuff but not my own. He did it to me today. I had plans so did he so his plans took the auto give me a lift to do his stuff but not mine. Now I am in a worry about my word being mud. Dang I had putting myself into this position as his memory loss, forgetfulness, and single minded driving force at times shows more than others. I just was not up to fighting him today so I let it slide. I need to recall he has been alone as well these past 4 months as we each went our own way for hours and hours each week. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">I will work on forgiving tonight hopefully then things will be less stressful by Friday when I go see my crew at the Farewell to Tax Year 2012 Luncheon on Friday in Eugene Oregon at the Red Lobster. None of us have ever been to Red Lobster for lunch and most have never been at all so wanted to give it a try. I am trying to plan things so I do not feel stuck at home with Ol' Army Man or the dogs 24/7 this year. We will see if these plans can last but at least it is a plan of action this year rather then the wait and see plan we went with after last tax season. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Take care, </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Ol' Mossback Me. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-66265582681198702112012-10-03T19:21:00.002-07:002012-10-03T19:21:27.497-07:00Traveling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love the seeing of new places, things, events. We traveled down to a national dog final event over the weekend. Silly us we thought we would be without dogs so we took swim suits, camera, things like that. Alas a pup ended up not liking the new owners so we had a pup all weekend. Now the pup is a good gal that was not the problem. She road well, no messes in the crate, no real barking to speak of, but it was when we left the hotel room we needed to have her with us and if we went anywhere we needed to keep her in the shade or our arms. <br />
<br />
We road down Friday, nice drive, along some routes I had not been on in years. I had an enjoyable time traveling. Then Friday night the drop off the pups night went well with one family and not so well with the other. You know things can get ugly if people get money between friendships. This caused some ugly. Must say I thought we did well. This gal wanted the pup prodded, hassled, and maneuvered us into saving this one pup for her two weeks longer than the other people who wanted pup picked up their pups. One thing after another kept our auto in the shop. We were without wheels time and time again. Much of what we had planned did not get done in a timely manner. This was a pits for me as I had wanted shots, etc done way before we left. We had even lost the toe nail clippers so there was on more grump they buyers had, sharp nails. Then for her to back out not a happy camper I was for a while. <br />
<br />
It has been along time sense we have had a weekend with just one dog. I now recall how and why I wanted to raise these dogs. Smart, loving, humorous, playfulness and that is just me towards these dogs. OAM goes gaga over the pups. OAM the reason he is so loved comes out when he is with pups. Gentle, loving, kid-like behavior of a OAM is nice to see. His stress decreased. The little girl pup is now back home with us. We will make the call on what to do with her leaning towards putting her back on the market, but jeez it would be nice to have room to keep her alas for me to be selfish is not fair to the new owner let that person enjoy the forthcoming puppy breath. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HaHt4faGshU/UGzxEQhfsZI/AAAAAAAABJ4/ylkouiE-VmI/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HaHt4faGshU/UGzxEQhfsZI/AAAAAAAABJ4/ylkouiE-VmI/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Travel home was going to be filled with pictures but the camera went dead. Bummer to the max as the birds were in the fall migration for some. White swans, terns, and a few ocean birds were seen also. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xc6YcsRnKQc/UGzxbdz4TEI/AAAAAAAABKA/zKBG1NliGi4/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xc6YcsRnKQc/UGzxbdz4TEI/AAAAAAAABKA/zKBG1NliGi4/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The trip back found OAM, dear daughter, and myself sitting around the table sharing things that had happened over the weekend. I think this may have been the best time of the weekend. Family, sharing time, laughter, happiness, gladness were felt by all. It was good. Take care now, see you next time, Ol Mossback.<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-61844301929482974812012-09-20T00:00:00.002-07:002012-09-20T01:23:08.004-07:00Recovery Coffee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today my son has 30 days in recovery. Today I have 22 yrs, 9 months, and 18 days in recovery. This son of mine thinks I am full of it and not really all that bad. Hate to live though bad as what I lived though was enough for me. More than enough for anyone's lifetime. I can remember thinking Coffee AWFUL stuff at meetings. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNWKZb1gNOk/UFqvP3XkaEI/AAAAAAAABHg/U_Vs27M39CQ/s1600/544582_3300733750162_1295380296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNWKZb1gNOk/UFqvP3XkaEI/AAAAAAAABHg/U_Vs27M39CQ/s320/544582_3300733750162_1295380296_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Then I started to use it was more of a hand warmer than a drink. Something to do with my hands. That helped. Coffee is cheaper than drinking Beer or at least it was back when I stopped. Use to be able to buy a months worth of coffee for less than $10 dollars. Yea and way back then I use to have only $10 per week for my husband's cigs. Times have changed. Coffee at meetings use to be better at some locations than others. In the town I went to most of the meetings were in one location so the same coffee was used for all the meetings at that location. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhyrY9TKwmU/UFqwV5H-8qI/AAAAAAAABHs/hPrVFI3RD5A/s1600/377740_3210456719319_1170722495_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhyrY9TKwmU/UFqwV5H-8qI/AAAAAAAABHs/hPrVFI3RD5A/s320/377740_3210456719319_1170722495_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Once I found the cup I liked I took one to meetings. The cup was tallish, large enough around to put my hands, while keeping them warm. I started buying myself mugs for coffee and tea. I like some mugs for camping, others for tea for my break on a spring day. Other cups were for summer take outside and leave them or winter keep the coffee warm in the greenhouse, then there were some for other hot drinks like warm eggnog or herb teas for the evenings in the winter by the hearth. Then we built a home without a fireplace or wood stove. Oh, how I was living the good life. No wood to haul, no wood to stack, no wood to split, not having to have a wood shed was a big deal to me. No more boots to dry and care for after we did the wood run. Oh the freedom, I felt. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ryB6VUmiwY/UFqx6vmZsLI/AAAAAAAABH0/wexp4NZRjyQ/s1600/imagesCAUABRVP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ryB6VUmiwY/UFqx6vmZsLI/AAAAAAAABH0/wexp4NZRjyQ/s1600/imagesCAUABRVP.jpg" /></a></div>
I lived. I learned how much coffee to drink. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I0gYhCW871I/UFqyaPdUujI/AAAAAAAABH8/XXA7SiA3TW8/s1600/coffee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I0gYhCW871I/UFqyaPdUujI/AAAAAAAABH8/XXA7SiA3TW8/s320/coffee2.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yea, had to learn not to drink too much coffee, then I had to wean myself off coffee after I married Old Army Man as he likes the smell of coffee, but will not drink the stuff or kiss me if I have been drinking the stuff. I liked my morning kisses so I just let coffee fall to the wayside. I do drink coffee during tax season as well, I need to be awake and up and going for hours on end. The drugs I take for ailments have me sleeping 10-11 hours a day without coffee to keep me from napping. I start to creep up on my cups of coffee until I get a bit jittery then I need to back off and tell the boss, hey I need to sleep here. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rk6LQfvwtGY/UFqyvFHRGRI/AAAAAAAABIE/-BQdRs0w1g4/s1600/coffee_one_good_cup_lg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rk6LQfvwtGY/UFqyvFHRGRI/AAAAAAAABIE/-BQdRs0w1g4/s320/coffee_one_good_cup_lg.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I miss having coffee around a campfire of an evening or early morning. I miss the scout troop I use to go camping with also. The leader was a bear of a man, big, loud, funny, loved to show the kids how things were done before the turn of the century. The kids made rope, started fires with simple things one could find or had in your pockets in the woods. How to cook and how to love the outdoors. They went so many places, they had so much fun on the rafting trips, the summer camps where they had horse camps and night rides camp outs. These activities kept me sober. I learned to live a life with out bars, beer, and drugs. Real friends not drinking buddies, not drinking because I was sad I had no real friends any longer. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9XisZeX8G8A/UFqy3RElHvI/AAAAAAAABIM/9RjXfTIylPE/s1600/420055_405392782843797_867033662_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9XisZeX8G8A/UFqy3RElHvI/AAAAAAAABIM/9RjXfTIylPE/s320/420055_405392782843797_867033662_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What does coffee mean to me? Coffee is hope. Coffee means a future. Coffee means loving behavior, caring behavior, kindness in a cup. The smell of coffee in the morning as Grandma who raised me in the summers as I was growing up was so refreshing. It was the love I felt, the being cared for by someone who took the time to care for me. Not because she had to, but because she wanted me to learn how to be like her. I learned to work yarn to the smell of coffee, I learn to embroidery to the smell of coffee. I learned to pack a lunch to the smell of coffee. I learned to do the banking and the books to the smell of coffee. Coffee smell is so refreshing at times. Can you feel it hugging you when you enter a room after not smelling coffee for a while? Me too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gta2jAP7dzk/UFqzDflWgeI/AAAAAAAABIU/lXLRE9virjw/s1600/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gta2jAP7dzk/UFqzDflWgeI/AAAAAAAABIU/lXLRE9virjw/s320/IMG_0692.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I started to drink coffee while in college. My parents did not drink coffee. I now drink coffee in fancy glasses, mugs, paper cups, plastic cups, iced in heavy tall cups. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9D6W2PBvQw/UFq4enh7olI/AAAAAAAABI4/oL9hZKzzo_0/s1600/nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9D6W2PBvQw/UFq4enh7olI/AAAAAAAABI4/oL9hZKzzo_0/s320/nose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I would love to say coffee solved so many problems. I had stopped drinking. Less problems of my own making thank the Lord! That did not clean up the mess I had made in my life or the mess less messy. I cleaned up some of my messes, some I out lived. Others just went away before I got around to cleaning them up. I took one son to Eagle Scout, one to Life. I learned my way with my sons and though those men who were men more than I think my sons did. I learned what a man should do and how he acted. How he took the good and the bad and did not <strike>hit/kick, batter strike kick out of bed, yell at, leave </strike>blame the wife for the problems. It was eye opening as my first cup of coffee in the morning. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLiWTkfDA04/UFqzSaItSDI/AAAAAAAABIc/m9XV5VVrO04/s1600/405486_10151149239294124_1667968962_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLiWTkfDA04/UFqzSaItSDI/AAAAAAAABIc/m9XV5VVrO04/s1600/405486_10151149239294124_1667968962_a.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Learned men could drink or not drink for months or even years. I learned these men liked coffee but did not drink it 24/7 like my first husband did during his sober attempts. I learned a great deal more about what a man should do then maybe I wanted as I was upset by how my roll models and male leadership roles where jerks more than men at times. Eye opening to say the least. I now go out on a cool morning with my tin cup in hand to keep those hands warm, the cup does not break and I can put it anywhere and the livestock really have not broken it yet like they have the plastic mugs. I hope to keep up the good things I learned. I learned what I wanted in a husband so when the first husband died I knew there was more to life than what I had in the first marriage. Good yes there was some, bad lots of that, sad even more sadness for hopes lost, decades lost, joy dampened down. Now it all is different because I learned to pick a man who respects me, loves me thick or thin-physically, emotionally or financially- I am loved. I get treated like a queen and the hurt has gone away. I cannot get back those years I lost to drinking, but I can live my life forward one day at a time. My dream of a small farm, a loving husband, dogs asleep at my feet, cows in the fields. Chickens on order, ducks in their duck run area. Greenhouse part way built, garden tunnels supplies on the ground. I am living. I am alive. To think I started with a Coffee in my hands. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SqEe8UV1F-I/UFq4NGsKbvI/AAAAAAAABIw/PfZkAk1XTY8/s1600/296625_414060628656967_1998188143_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SqEe8UV1F-I/UFq4NGsKbvI/AAAAAAAABIw/PfZkAk1XTY8/s320/296625_414060628656967_1998188143_n.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thank you for your time. Thank you for reading. Thank you for me for being me today. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Take care and you all come back now you hear. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ol' Mossback </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-40962628465248332002012-09-15T01:06:00.001-07:002012-09-20T00:03:00.201-07:00It happened again. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Daughter's birthday today. Old Army Man just is not up to going in to eat lunch as he is hurting too bad today. Well that was a first step of many being different. Middle son phoned asked if he could talk to me and well I invited him to lunch with his sister. </div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecGgNAVBI2Y/UFQq5yzfemI/AAAAAAAABD0/wjnsn82O704/s1600/391413_3828666248508_627909446_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecGgNAVBI2Y/UFQq5yzfemI/AAAAAAAABD0/wjnsn82O704/s200/391413_3828666248508_627909446_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHeFX5A1Kvo/UFQqyfr9FjI/AAAAAAAABDs/I1VYrxyfgL4/s1600/264386_124765387607829_7057845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; height: 159px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 206px;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHeFX5A1Kvo/UFQqyfr9FjI/AAAAAAAABDs/I1VYrxyfgL4/s200/264386_124765387607829_7057845_n.jpg" width="200" /></a> Oldest son called and asked if he could come to lunch as sis was giving him a ride and well the answer was yes. Nice all kids with me on dd birthday. A nice move on everyone part as she was worried no one would remember her birthday. Well things went well as she was not the only one to celebrate milestones in there life. Middle son did get his GED had just gotten the news this morning that was why he was calling me. I felt so good after learning he had his GED as that meant I now had two high school grads and one GED kid from three kids I had been told by school officials time and time again none would never get out of grade school. Needless to say the kids each took their own route to achieve the results but they have now something to be proud of for reaching out to achieve something someone said they would never do and do it with flying colors for the most part. Some times teachers are great other times they are not worth diddle. Some school systems promote great teachers others systems promote the diddles of the education system. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lov89xsvV6A/UFQq-DuhSjI/AAAAAAAABD8/61KzVsSRJGY/s1600/8eace103-2070-4b62-8cfe-9a0d4b54bd15-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lov89xsvV6A/UFQq-DuhSjI/AAAAAAAABD8/61KzVsSRJGY/s1600/8eace103-2070-4b62-8cfe-9a0d4b54bd15-1.jpg" /></a>Daughter does not do photos often. If she did she would look like the picture to our left only without the hat. She looks like me who looks like my mom and aunts, who look like their mom and their aunts see the thread of this. Well we are old stock with strong genes and life has given each of us our own ups and downs. Cowgirl she is not but then again she is turning out more farm girl than she ever would believe she would be. One of the things she talked about to day was about brother and sister-in-law who make all their food from boxes nothing from scratch. How she was able to feed 2 people on the same budget that she feeds one most months the month her middle brother lived with her after SIL and him decided to file for divorce. She is proud she can take two hundred dollars and make it last over a month sometimes 6 weeks. Eating fresh food is some times the things she misses the most at the end of the month but she now knows to purchase cabbage, apples, winter squash, cranberries, oranges, etc that keep well or freeze well so she is not without fresh flavor at the end of the month. She learned the value of cooking from scratch after the first time she moved out. Found out how much it would cost not to learn. Thank goodness for YouTube videos which ed helped her until she moved back home and paid attention now that she wanted to know how to make food she liked or how to stretch the food dollar. She is not a big bean eater but she does have several kinds in her freezer just in case she needs something at the end of the month. She never did like bean dish Friday's we use to have however she did like meat free Wednesday. Eggplant was one of her favorite meat substitutes, edamone (green fresh frozen soybeans) was like in many forms. I have a few seed packets of soybeans that I am planning on trying to grow as the seed catalogs say they will grow and I found some short season seeds to try to give them enough time grow. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wX_Di0Un6Bk/UFQ293ag_vI/AAAAAAAABEQ/UQcoof1pL7o/s1600/252462_358205717598328_1236546496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wX_Di0Un6Bk/UFQ293ag_vI/AAAAAAAABEQ/UQcoof1pL7o/s320/252462_358205717598328_1236546496_n.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well to get back to the saying, remember that auto being broken down, it did it again today. Wednesday the auto repair man come out and fixed the belt here after it breaking, Thursday two trips to town-me to work and home again. Friday almost out of town on the way to Albany and bang that darn belt went. Made it to a place I could part and meet my kids. Called the repairman, he came out, put a new belt on, then I drove back, belt may have broken on the way to his shop. I just could not find it in myself to look. DD drove me home after she did some things she needed to do before she could leave town. Time, time, time sitting at home gets old. Not because I do not like it or that there is nothing to do but because of the loss of freedom. A couple of days okay but this is going on 11 days. I have made appointments for Craigslist's pick-ups then could not make it time after time. I look so much like a flake. Flakes one of the things I work hard at not being now that I am sober. Cuss word inserted here, I want to do better and think clearer then days like this happen were it all seems to slap me silly. OAM and me seemed to have a few words a couple times today. We never have words so there was many things which made today a slap me silly day. I hope when we go back in to get the Jeep in the morning we can stay on the road for a while we we get things back on track-emotionally, financially, and well physically be able to be on a track. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Take care, you all come back now you hear, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ol' Mossback </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-37146958296839346052012-09-13T00:42:00.000-07:002012-09-13T00:42:23.217-07:00Little bit of relaspe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Who would care if I relapsed? Not many in this world would really even know. My middle son thinks he has the corner on being addicted. My oldest tells me well I don't think it is so that you needed AA, but it is up to you. Hell I have been sober for 22 plus years the oldest is 29 does he think he recalls all the times I was less than there in this world because I was drunk or hung over? Does he know how well I hid my drinking? Drank after the kids went to bed. Dad took care of them if he knew I was bad off in the morning. To them I was just sleeping in or grumpy, what did they recall. <br />
<br />
Today was day 9 of not being off the place except to work one day last week. The Jeep had been back 2 days but dang it as Old Army Man was the one who drove in to town to get away from the place. Left me here to handle things due to this or that. It was okay until I got into the car to take us to town today and found the belt on the auto had broken and the Jeep was not drivable. Drove right back to the house once I figured out there was not going to be a fun day if I drove away from home any father. <br />
<br />
DD came to come pick me up and we went to town and purchase such needed items as female pads. Heck, it is a fact of life with an older mother of 3, overweight, who has bladder problems to have a need for the pads. Picked up some mid to medium sized containers to put flours, sugars, oatmeal and such in as the mice have decided to eat their way into all my packaging I had been using. Plastic containers had been breached. New battle plans had to be devised. Now to get spay paint to freshen up the look of some of the old popcorn cans, or to make chalk boards on the bottles to put labels on them. <br />
<br />
I right now feel like a beer or wine, beer to get lost, wine to relax and fade into the wood work. I need to work one second at a time one minute at at time to get though this. I have too much invested in being sober to turn tail and run backwards right now. I hate the drinking dreams. Waking up in the sweats hoping it was a dream and not a black out you were waking up from. <br />
<br />
Pop is my friend, coffee, tea, juices, and even the awful dreadful thing called water is my friend. Yea laugh but there was times in my life were I had more beer or wine in me than water so give me a break it works to keep me sober. It is the thinking that is the real part I have to work at keeping sane so I don't relapse. Thinking oh it is just okay for one drink, oh it is fine for me today I have deserved it, oh man I could use a cold one right now, wow this meal sure would taste good with a beer or wine would finish this meal off real nice. <br />
<br />
It helps OAM does not drink any fermented drink or distilled liquor at all. First husband cannot say that about him. Much easier to be angry and stay sober with a drunk some days than to deal with the boredom of life though clear un bloodshot eyes. <br />
<br />
I am glad dd stayed and made time for us this evening. It broke up the boredom, the blah of the day. Sons, both of them sent me texts so the day was not bad, I just wanted to view it that way to justify the want to drink now. Hells bells time to go to bed and have an iced coffee before I head off to work. Things will looked different in the morning. <br />
<br />
Better head off now. <br />
<br />
Night all, You all come back now, you hear, <br />
<br />
Ol' Mossback</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-12757615167687786742012-09-12T02:15:00.002-07:002012-09-12T02:15:40.190-07:00Getting back to more of a normal day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last night we got the car back. Wow thought we would have gotten more done without us being gone as often. Trick was on me, as I just am not as fast as I use to be. I was happy to spend time with my husband, however it was good to let him go all by himself to go pick up the Jeep. We had a friend visit just as hubby got home. We spent the twilight talking and showing off stuff around the place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1sDB_9Dvts/UFBR_EoaqbI/AAAAAAAABDI/kBCHkLGALGU/s1600/Evie+Reese+pup+pics+aug+13+2012+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1sDB_9Dvts/UFBR_EoaqbI/AAAAAAAABDI/kBCHkLGALGU/s320/Evie+Reese+pup+pics+aug+13+2012+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gpFgqnu8pZQ/UFBSUVpeO1I/AAAAAAAABDQ/HAUdBTeXAiU/s1600/Mica+and+Flash+at+Brian's+and+home+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gpFgqnu8pZQ/UFBSUVpeO1I/AAAAAAAABDQ/HAUdBTeXAiU/s320/Mica+and+Flash+at+Brian's+and+home+033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Today we spent the day being old folks who need to get to know each other better. Rekindled kindness, respect, and caring in our relationship. Not sex so much as caring for the others limits, kindness in not expecting the world to shatter just because we were wild and crazy rather because we cared for each other's emotions, telling the other they still were desirable even over 50, less hair, more body weight, more wrinkles, less energy, slower to the take off, quicker to fail at times due to medications and life events. It is not easy keeping a marriage on track. Hopes dreams help, desire to be with your friend helps, fear of being alone is part of the make up of our marriage. We have both been alone and knew going into this we were not 20 anymore but we wanted to make the commitment to each other as we had entered that age when children start to fly the nest life was a changing for my whole family at that time. I had been a widow for a while after watching my first husband drink then added drugging himself to death. His body just gave up trying to fight the fight and started to rot from the inside out. This husband did nor has he ever be angry with me to the point of walking out, leaving me to clear his head, hitting me to get his way, or to even raise his voice to cuss me out. He will say Whoa and that means please stop I am getting to angry we will talk more in a few minutes when I cool down a bit. Now me I go off and cuss, say cutting words, even fuss and bussle about things. Hubby now he see the trouble I have worked myself up to and he takes the time to either talk to me in a smooth calm voice or he gives me space to blow off steam then we talk. Today's cuddle time was a renewal of all the good times we have had and want to have. Time to talk, time to value the other, time to renew hopes and dreams in a safe place, safe manner, safe environment, in loving arms which have no age limits. Cleaned up small problems between each other, talked of future, talked of where we wanted to go over the next few weeks in short comfortable manner. It was safe and now our relationship is on better footing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_pp8MJR93c/UFBRv842QQI/AAAAAAAABC4/jM2_iDA5bA0/s1600/may+evie+babies+goat+pen+work+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_pp8MJR93c/UFBRv842QQI/AAAAAAAABC4/jM2_iDA5bA0/s320/may+evie+babies+goat+pen+work+066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My kids do not understand why I like this man, why I love him. The safety OAM beings me compared to the first husband is miles apart. He loves me without fear of what others think. He is loved for his actions, words, and deeds. He even attends church with me. The value of that is priceless. My heart opens to him each and every day. He is real, knows himself, is not the most handsome like the first husband was but inside he is golden. Just simply golden for me and he trys to love my kids as much as they will let themselves be open to him. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-POOllz18dMk/UFBR0-2N9GI/AAAAAAAABDA/KWTpuW9v78o/s1600/may+evie+babies+goat+pen+work+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-POOllz18dMk/UFBR0-2N9GI/AAAAAAAABDA/KWTpuW9v78o/s320/may+evie+babies+goat+pen+work+064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hubby went to town for a bit after we did some chores, then we had another visitor tonight. A man looking for a new LGD (livestock Guard Dog). WE need to rehome ours before she loses her instinct and wants to only guard the home and not the goats. This sir has a herd of goats and Quince loves goats. Dan brought dinner home a Big Carl from Carl's Jr. I had fun eating someone else's cooking. I had forgotten to eat breakfast or lunch did have a iced coffee. I cut up some apples for dessert. Now to see about getting a cable box converter so we can get TV from the on air stations if we can. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8sipmV1dqEs/UFBSp7FWD9I/AAAAAAAABDc/1785vL2Q6vY/s1600/376470_433994969968748_1968164296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8sipmV1dqEs/UFBSp7FWD9I/AAAAAAAABDc/1785vL2Q6vY/s320/376470_433994969968748_1968164296_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It is getting late and I need to start tomorrow a bit earlier than we started today plus I want to read some before going to sleep. <br />
<br />
I will write more soon, <br />
<br />
Take Care and come back soon, <br />
<br />
Ol' Mossback<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-51724939872499242672012-09-09T11:35:00.000-07:002012-09-09T11:35:07.804-07:00Retro life without a car<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Remember way back, back when you had to ask to be taken somewhere. Back when you were very young? I do. I lived in a small town of less than 500 people. It was a mixture of loggers and wood products mill workers with a few tradesmen and farmers mixed in. Some had wife's that ran small local stores, others had farms they came home to after work so they worked the land. Most were church going, almost all drank, many had large families to support. Kids did what kids did, play outside from morning wake-up to dusk with breaks for meals and school. There were only 5 TV channels to watch. CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, and a local independent station which showed old shows and movies with a kids show with cartoons on for us kiddies.<br />
<br />
This week has been something like that for us. Ruku for TV, no cable as Comcast went all digital and we do not have TVs that have built in converters and we never were able to get converters back when the feds were sending out vouchers as the stores were always out when we would go to get them. Now once again we are waiting to see if there are any converters on the shelves. Each time we go in the converters are sold out. The prices we can find online do seem good until you add on the $13+ dollar shipping charges. Alas I am also without a car. Our pick-up did a smashing wreck last February and we used the check to pay off property taxes which are high here in Oregon. We have had the Jeep which has done us well as OAM is not to be driving much with his health anyway. Now to stay at home where the nearest store is 3 miles away, the nearest store of size is 6 miles away. We stocked up. Our daughter did come out Friday to take OAM to the back, the local discount dented can and deli store and Walmart for dog food. I had hoped to go to Wilco and get chicks this week did not happen, To go get some furniture to paint and fix up what I have, go get some plywood to fix my furniture I have currently. Then to start looking for areas to paint one thing at a time with so this house is livable again. <br />
<br />
We have gotten things done we would not have if not home. Dogs trained, showers cleaned, bathrooms cleaned (this is saying alot when you have 4 bathroom and 5 showers) Yes who ever built this house made one room that was just for wheel chair showers. The kittens were named. There have been many a night going to bed earlier getting up earlier. We like each other so time together has been good. Meals have been so so as I am still working on that kitchen. The dogs helped yesterday while we were out training dogs. The dogs inside tore into the ww flour, the bread flour, the standard flour, and some of the sugars. Dan now understands about me needing storage containers not only to keep mice out of but to store supplies in the kitchen. <br />
<br />
It has been hard for me to start my life over here in this house it just called to me but I am having trouble finding a way to make it a home. It has been 7 years I thought I would have figured it out by now but there has been so much to overcome or do first. Kids moving in and out, illnesses, injuries, and diseases took their toll, plus a lack or hope we would ever live here long enough to make it a home. Well looks like this will be the homeplace no matter what at least for a decade or two more. Time to get my head out of the sand and make this place work. One thing at a time. Kitchen counters too low will figure out if you can get new cabinets or raise the one's you have or do you say hell lets move the kitchen into the stick built side and gut the trailer house part as it is only a third of the square footage anyway. Like I said one step at a time we will face the foes and meet them head on. <br />
<br />
I am off to go see if I can work some magic into the kitchen as I want to move some shelves, in and out and out to in, wash and tag them all if I can. I want to see life come back into this place so it can be a home. Those calves we let friends put on our place well they sure make a place feel like a home now to bring that feeling into this house. Pictures maybe soon. <br />
<br />
Take care now you hear, <br />
<br />
Ol' Mossback Tough</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-81609713463345440142012-09-05T23:06:00.002-07:002012-09-05T23:07:21.176-07:00What a day! Good, Bad, to foot We go. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We started the day out with a sale to someone who came to the place mid-morning. It got us up and going so we were are a small cafe on the way into Albany for lunch after doing some banking in Lebanon. Lunch was nice, but the a/c was not working so I left there hot and sweaty with a bit of a headache. We had just pasted the entering Albany, OR sign when we got into trouble. We had four cars in front of us. Two were pick-ups with trailers of material in there beds. The one close to me looked like it was someone moving, the pick-up and trailer was following a auto which was following another pick-up that had the parts for an old pick-up early 1920 or 30's pickup parts rusty, many parts, many pieces. One piece fell off the old pickup on the trailer twisted rolled under the auto and pick up and trailer in front of me hitting something which made that bit of metal bounce higher timing it just right so it hit underneath our jeep. Then we heard a clunk, a snap, then a do not repeat word from me. That started the down slide of the day. <br />
<br />
I noticed the jeep was just a bit harder to steer when I tried moving as the 4 autos in front of me pulled off into a gas station or storage unit area who driveways were about 5 feet apart. I drove up to the next stoplight and Dan noticed the electrical unit was not charger on our gages. I was on an overpass so there was not way to pull over at that stoplight. I was trying to follow Old Army Man advice and get to a repair shop that was only a bit ahead. The jeep started overheating smoke going everywhere, the was more smoke with blue and white coming out from under the hood. Alas I panicked tuned off the jeep,maybe not the best idea, OAM and another man help push the jeep out of the road and into a safe parking space. <br />
<br />
We called out daughter,..... help!!! We call our auto repair shop, leave a message, and wait. Daughter showed up directly, helped us get things out of the jeep, then we start off to our repair shop. Our repairshop is a few miles out of Albany, we pull in, get the name of the tow shop he likes to use. When I worked in the auto repair industry I learned if you use the tow company the repair shop likes the tow company often gives a discount. Well the tow company our repairman liked happened to be my first choice as well I use to work for this fellow 20 some years ago. The tow guy was on another tow, but we would be next on his list. 4 hours later we were about out of topics to talk about with out repairman when the tow truck with our daughter following in her auto showed up. Thank the Lord it made it there safe. <br />
<br />
I must say we did get help from above as the tow cost were 1/3 less than they would have been because we waited for him, knew him, and the repairman once he looked at it made a mental list of things that it could be. The call today confirmed radiator one hole in it, belt to power steering gone but not serpentine belt. One pulley needing replacing with the leak in the back from the overflow reserve so not a big problem there. <br />
<br />
Daughter drove us home with us stopping to get a few things until we can get back into town. We have only one auto at this time so we are afoot if we wish to go anywhere. Made appointment for daughter to pick us up Thursday to take me to work and to run Dan around if need be. <br />
<br />
Made it home, my cell phone had been off all day due to the battery running down faster than I thought it would. Dang it once I turned the cell on did I find a note saying we want to bring the calves over, called the horseshoe, and several other messages along with on our way with the calves. As I read this OAM is walking out the front door, I see the pick up and trailer pull up and start backing in, DD helps by opening the gate, the livestock trailer backs in, up to the fence were we had a gate. In the mean time DD runs up and puts the lgd up into the house, while we see the calves come out of the trailer, OAM moves the first calf-5 wt-into the back field. <br />
<br />
DD had to leave asap to go take her bother food shopping, seems her day was upset as well as ours. I did get dd to stop and get fresh veggies at the food stand, so we had fresh bi-color corn, cukes, and a few other things that were wiped out from our garden fresh garlic, green onions, and watermelon. Dinner was pork steak broiled, corn microwaved, zucchini w/ gr pepper, onion, and fresh herbs, salad. At least we will not go hungry for a few days.<br />
<br />
Better hope the rest of the week goes better than today. <br />
Take Care, <br />
<br />
Ol' Mossback. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-86329155253674521392012-09-03T09:33:00.000-07:002012-09-03T09:33:50.221-07:00New week starts with Labor Day Holiday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This week starts with a holiday. Thus giving a relaxing day followed by four how come it feels like this day of the week when it is this day of the week days. Once the weekend gets her things often go back to a more normal until then well we have this or that day to make it though. The list of today's for this week covers the front and back of an envelope. We sat down at dinner last night and made the list as getting older we found this helps us keep on task a bit better. <br />
<br />
Today will be a day to go see a friend or two while working dogs. Dan and I will go down towards Eugene, Oregon and spend some time working young dogs with our trainer. The plans are to spend some time working the dogs then to come home to make a ham dinner. Sounds good to me.<br />
<br />
Last night OAM went and got an electric mouse thing, he plugged it in within minutes 5 mice ran out though the hole in the wall out of the kitchen. He was so happy had rushed in to tell me about how well his find had worked on running out the mice. Okay but still have the cats now to deal with. Beanie and Cicle are the kitten's names. Seems that OAM is training them to use the litter box, he even cleaned the litter box out. For this I am very thankful, praise the Lord, pass the potatoes happy. <br />
<br />
Better go make up some side dishes and put the ham into the oven on time bake. Thinking side dishes to be pickled beets, roasted garden veggies -tomatoes, zuke, onion, carrots, and herbs, jello salad maybe with fruit, and watermelon for something sweet. Might even bake a cake if I get time. <br />
<br />
Take Care, enjoy your holiday, <br />
<br />
Ol' Mossback<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-76660384267919805572012-09-01T18:51:00.000-07:002012-09-01T18:58:15.169-07:00All quite before the storm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Fall is coming, you can feel it in the air. The nights are cooler, the leaves have begun to change on the early trees, the garden is packed full surprises, the livestock and wildlife are acting a bit different. Still time to enjoy the sunny days, cool off in the evening to sleep. Then come the last week or two of October all sorts of weather breaks lose. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNNFiw1biQs/UEKuFv2LCdI/AAAAAAAABBI/WDJ_G251BMM/s1600/293186_399807050083614_992181352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNNFiw1biQs/UEKuFv2LCdI/AAAAAAAABBI/WDJ_G251BMM/s320/293186_399807050083614_992181352_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now is the time to enjoy the beginning of fall the end of summer, the time of plenty the time of change. More and more things are changing. Heard that my daughter in law (former) dropped my grandchild off at her mothers saying she could not longer care for that child because it acted like my son. Silly girl the grandchild is acting just like her grandpa did at that age. My first husband was smart, keen memories, a planner, a handful, a hell raiser even at 3 years old, the granddaughters age. People asked him if he was the Marlboro man because he looked such the part of a cowboy. The grand child I am speaking of has just been though some things in life that are upsetting. Mom and Dad (she was a daddy's girl) life was crazy due to social choices made, mom was not the Mommy of the Year in many ways, but not harmful physically to her children. What I saw and advised to keep quite about was the language, the music, the movies of gore and violence, the threats of violence even though some of those threats were in jest, how is a child to know? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nChS6p-_EOs/UEKzTM_-OuI/AAAAAAAABBY/SHmPbo54WPk/s1600/431495_405036472879428_1441677256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nChS6p-_EOs/UEKzTM_-OuI/AAAAAAAABBY/SHmPbo54WPk/s320/431495_405036472879428_1441677256_n.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The big changes started last fall. Violence, restraining orders, jail, kids moved to other grandmothers home, then the divorce which puts emotions into adults let along kids. Putting a restraining order on dad against the mom them mom adding the kids to the restraining order while going though a trying divorce puts things on stressful, drug use, alcohol abuse by the parents and friends, living with the grandmother for months puts a stress on the children, then 2 months later after moving back in with Mommy, finds mom marring a female puts a whole new twist on family life, well, maybe that child has a reason to be acting out. I find myself thinking she tossed the kid out with the dirty water. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6AWfAnV3xrE/UEK0GTp-vvI/AAAAAAAABBg/f40kHgsdOV4/s1600/67976275595824888_Kvfw3ZRt_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6AWfAnV3xrE/UEK0GTp-vvI/AAAAAAAABBg/f40kHgsdOV4/s1600/67976275595824888_Kvfw3ZRt_b.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Not saying my adult child was doing nothing wrong. He needed to be hung by the short hairs until he recalled he made two children, he promised God and the church he would love and care for them and their momma. He did cared for those kids more though actions than the mother did, was those kids rock in the family. For him to toss it all away on drug & booze with the way he is drawn to them is telling himself a lie each and every minute of the day. He has to get more of his head on straight than he has now to physically care for those kids. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGCX33f_dnk/UEK0oKyoZJI/AAAAAAAABBo/M09r7LYUpIc/s1600/551364_10100697452835889_195526976_n+hops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGCX33f_dnk/UEK0oKyoZJI/AAAAAAAABBo/M09r7LYUpIc/s320/551364_10100697452835889_195526976_n+hops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
He is the better parent. This is one thing all sets of grandparents agree. He was a great parent to his kids. He did the house work, kept their home, made the meals, dressed those girls, sat on the couch and watched their shows with them, laid on the floor and played kid games with them. He was the one who put them to bed at night, reading them a story, and tucking them in while mom did do the shopping, oh, she liked to shop. She could cook and did often when she wanted something for herself. The mom lost her focus after she started going back to beauty school and losing over 100 lbs from having 2 kids one on top of the other. The path each of the parents has is tough to return to near what they were before drugs, now to not think that you, the parent, did not played some part of those kids of yours being a bit touchy, well, you just have your head in the sand with your arse exposed to the elements. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0FLjz6WDpM/UEK6QhflBdI/AAAAAAAABB4/jKTOtQHrf3M/s1600/137782069819713484_fQRxdd3G_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0FLjz6WDpM/UEK6QhflBdI/AAAAAAAABB4/jKTOtQHrf3M/s1600/137782069819713484_fQRxdd3G_b.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I know I have been on each side of this issue, the child of, a parent who was, a parent who did not have her arse exposed any longer, the mother that grieved on how she may have made choices she never should have made, I tried very hard not to repeat the same steps my parents to or the grandparents took, but, alas, each generation has been less violence, less hate (maybe) but we still have children who are now effected by our negative actions who are acting out. I was the good girl, but why can no one love me, my bother was the smart with comments to put laughter in the day type person, other brother was the make them laugh athlete. Dad was the smart one who did not get to go to college so he worked his way up though the ranks in not one profession, but several, worked up til his dying day. Mom, she kept the home fires burning in more than one way. Grandmas one side hard working earner, poor her statments, she was so poor due to grandpa, other side I will kill you if you lay another hand on me or the kids. Grandpas one soft artistic, the other hard as nails tough, tougher than tough hard, it is how he made it and could "screw" so many people yet go to bed at night and sleep. Each of these generations had the ups and downs, it rules and changes, but wow to be this way after so many generations of trying not to be that way any longer. Wonder what we have each taught our kids to make them be a less polite and more physical or verbally negative in nature? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDRUWhuPA3Q/UEK7DXx3-iI/AAAAAAAABCA/eFmw31EhjZE/s1600/144044888052573610_cGoV4ZDd_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDRUWhuPA3Q/UEK7DXx3-iI/AAAAAAAABCA/eFmw31EhjZE/s1600/144044888052573610_cGoV4ZDd_b.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay so now I have shared a bit of the story of me. Not all fun and games, rather recovery, recover on may fronts still was not enough to keep it from touching the next generation in some way. I have hope that this was stopped early enough that the next generation will not be affected or effected by the nightmare of addiction, domestic violence, and dumb dumb moves that change a life. One hope is out there is of the three only one is showing signs of acting it out, the other two are working hard to keep the tie broken.<br />
<br />
Nite You All, Til we meet again, <br />
<br />
Ol' Mossback<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-76993681656763157642012-08-29T19:09:00.001-07:002012-08-29T19:09:17.256-07:00The Eyes have it.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was a busy day. Spent the morning carting around people. Old Army Man to college, then picked up Big Tall Son to do some job searching. In this neck of the woods "It is the Economy Dummy" still effecting our lives. I have three children, myself, and a husband. None of us are working full time. Me, it is normal for the line of work I am in, plus I (we) have the farm, OAM life has given him a recovery learning curve from all the stuff that is happening with his body. Way to long of a list to outline in one blog, let me tell you. Two sons and one daughter, well lets see what is happening. One boy went out with me today as he followed up on jobs he has applied for prevously also Mom being mom stopped at new places and pointed out other places for him to research. Okay if every day he can follow up on 5 job apps, learn of three new places to go back to and leave applications, and get mom off his back about well you could move back into my place. I did have him come over this week and we cleaned up stuff OAM has not been able to do for one reason or another. Being we live on a farm a great deal of the work involved cleaning up droppings of this and that. He did his job with out grumping but when I called to say I was in town with 2 hours to fill he said lets go check job apps, and I want to go see if so and so really has a we are hiring sign out. Between 10 am and 11:45 we went to business on a Wednesday morning. At noon took Olderst to a meeting, meet OAM, went to lunch, came home, put OAM into bed, then went back out and had my eyes checked. I went back to my old eye doctor. She has kids the same age as my olderst (her youngest) which gave us some time to talk about what was overlapping in our lives now. Our kids us to be on sport teams together back in our younger years. Well her husband is still around and kicking, her 30 old son is going back to college to fine tune his degree and area of study a bit more. Her other son, 28, is just joined the milatary and is right now learning how to be a firemen for his country. She was talking about something I had been thinking about. <br />
<br />
Both her and myself were dealing with life matters at 27-28 jobs, kids, ed done, house, etc. Now we are talking and both our kids are having trouble finding a place in life or where to head their lives until there late 20's early 30's heck my 23 yr old daughter whom I have been very worried about put in this light may just be ahead of the curve as she is at least trying to figure out what she wants to study or do with her life. Without her using drugs or alchoal to change her veiw of life maybe there is still hope, maybe. My eyes were wide open for the doctor to view them now that I have elder issues that can start showing at my age but maybe she opened my eyes in a whole new way along with the exam. <br />
<br />
Time for dinner soon. Steak, zuccini, peaches, and some starch to be named later.....<br />
<br />
I will be seeing you soon, Take care, <br />
<br />
Old Mossback<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-88521336998129557532012-08-28T14:49:00.000-07:002012-08-28T14:50:08.161-07:00Made Iced Coffee this weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">Made iced coffee
over the weekend, yes I did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So good,
now to recall how to stay awake all day long and not take super long naps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Used just Folgers Coffee this time, it came
out well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can pick Folgers up at the
second’s store in town for half the cost of the name brand stores, plus other
items I save on, like cottage cheese, a quart for 99 cents. I like going there
to shop first then see what else I need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They even have frozen meat sometimes which can really help stretch the
food budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going there is streaky so I
see what is there first then fill in the gaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I see something I will need in a few weeks or months form then, like
cranberry sauce for two quarts for a dollar fifty, I get it then wished I had
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old Army Guy likes homey in his
stews and soups so when I see it for 3 for a dollar I load up with 6 cans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which will last me will into spring if not I
get more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">Not each time do I
load up on things, but with a fresh deli of Amish made cheeses and meats I find hard to pass on good meats for sandwiches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes I have them slice the chopped ham the thickest slices they can
then come home and freeze each slice on its own then use the slices to flavor
bean soups or other savory soups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Chopped bacon needs to be made and bundled up as it is getting that
season where I use the bacon flavor to help cover the lack of meat in some
meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Potato Soup with bacon in the
broth helps meet the need of “meat” my tongue asks for yet gets veggies into
OAM (Old Army Man)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if I sneak some into
the Green bean soup, one of my favorite ways to eat green beans, once the
novelty of fresh steamed, pressure cooked, or just plan fresh wears a body
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I purchase the bacon now as it is
often on sale for BLT’s of summer eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cutting it up into usable size bacon bits to fry later and store them in
ice cube trays in baggies until frozen then put them in a larger zipper bag to
keep them together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do this with other
items I buy in large number 10 (commercial size cans) as I can get lots of
meals out of one can for half the price of buying thes same amount in smaller cans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corn and chili work well for this along with
other things I may see in large cans now and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We have three refrigerators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is for the livestock and dogs meds, and
dried milk replacers storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is
pop, ice tea, cold beverages, plus overflow and large item storage, and then
there is the kitchen frig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the
overflow frig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a place to put the
next night’s meat out to defrost, remember those large cans of food I purchased
will some was mustard, mayo, and ketchups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I repackage some, others I leave in there packaging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last might I had pork chops defrosting and
OAM got out steaks so I went to the frig, got out the Carna Asada sauce for
that night, put a sweet soy sauce over the pork steaks, and tonight I will have
Asian style pork with cold slaw (also from the overflow frig as the container
is filled each month during the last few days of the month as OAM likes a vinegar based cold slaw so he gets it at
the end of the month when other fresh veggies have run out) and then a jasmine
rice which in the summer I store in the freezer part of the 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> frig
due to Indian Meal moths in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
once again back to that 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> frig as dessert will be watermelon as it
is too big to put in the kitchen frig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dinner tomorrow night I will need to pull out of the big freezer tonight
after OAM gets home he was stopping by the store to get food he likes or I had
forgotten or we were out of before coming home tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two more days and two more nights of him in
summer session and we will be free of college for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctors found some things in need of care so
we will see if he goes back to college or what in September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">Other things you
will find in that second frig, oranges, apples, extra carrots, other root
veggies in the fall and winter, spices, sauces I purchase in bulk, in the
freezer is frozen milk, flours, etc that meal moths get into in the summer and
in the winter frozen meals I make ahead for tax season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I make double in Nov-Dec then the meals I
come home to are homemade rather than fast food or eating at midnight when I am working during tax season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often will go to bed w/o, but now that I
have sugar issues I need to eat something to keep on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we can, we butcher a pig and or a cow, but this
year with ORM injured we sold the beef and sheep off and the goats are too small
to butcher so we will need to talk about if we are buying half a pig or beef or
what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not even have a chicken
right now which is so strange for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
do have the dogs, but they are the bread and butter of how we earn an income
off this small farm of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBEdULGSLd0/UD06-4hWxwI/AAAAAAAABAg/kedzZ9FqDa0/s1600/Day+in+the+life+of+bc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBEdULGSLd0/UD06-4hWxwI/AAAAAAAABAg/kedzZ9FqDa0/s320/Day+in+the+life+of+bc.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIAP878Q8RA/UD07SCuW2II/AAAAAAAABAo/ij13nqDzzI0/s1600/Evie+Reese+summer+2012+liter+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIAP878Q8RA/UD07SCuW2II/AAAAAAAABAo/ij13nqDzzI0/s320/Evie+Reese+summer+2012+liter+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WjdAnU7cI1s/UD07bhTJO7I/AAAAAAAABAw/v36zcbfuf4E/s1600/Evie+Reese+summer+2012+liter+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WjdAnU7cI1s/UD07bhTJO7I/AAAAAAAABAw/v36zcbfuf4E/s320/Evie+Reese+summer+2012+liter+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">Back to the second
frig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love having it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went without for three years and found it
hard to manage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the old cabin in the
wood were I first had my home there was a cold storage box that was in the
coldest part of the home in the summer that we could keep things cooler in like
onions and mustards, but not mayo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
second place we had in Albany, we had an old frig which we kept things ready
made for the kids to eat in the summer so they did not have to come into the
house all the time to snack or get drinks. That frig out in the breezeway
helped by cutting down the home cooling bills and allowing their dad who worked
nights to sleep without the doors slamming all day long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made Kool-Aid and froze it in lidded
reusable cups or paper cups and the kids could get them out and eat on them or
drink them as they wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had
cheeses, sliced meats, cut up veggies and fruit and such for them to pull out
and share if they had friends with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Along with cookies and such now and then to treat the other kids and my
own or for them to grab for a meal if they wanted as long as I knew, some days
I even packed lunches and put it out there for them so they babysitter did not
have to make lunches on the days I worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It worked slick until I was feeding the whole neighborhood then we had
to put rules on the who’s and whens of eating out of our frig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vv72612krTY/UD08RTaCuLI/AAAAAAAABA4/PgjmZTGcDB8/s1600/137782069819713484_fQRxdd3G_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vv72612krTY/UD08RTaCuLI/AAAAAAAABA4/PgjmZTGcDB8/s1600/137782069819713484_fQRxdd3G_b.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">Better go time to
fix myself up a bit before OAM gets home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wash my hands, run a comb though my hair, and well check to see if there
are any dishes ready to use or if I need to do a other load of dishes before we
can eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next maybe I will write about
limited water pressure and the effects on getting housework done the modern
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who will know, I will see what
strikes me when I sit down to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">So long for now, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">Old Mossback <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iced Coffee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One 12 oz “can” of
coffee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">water<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pour coffee into a
large container, cover with three times the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let sit at least 12 hrs on the counter, but I never get to it
before at least two days due to my lack of planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stir, and stir ever twelve hours or so,
strain the mixer into a mesh strainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rinse out the large container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let the coffee mix sit a bit longer use a coffee filter this time and
strain into the rinsed out large container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rinse out the storage container once empty of all the segment and then
pour the coffee mix into the storage container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Put in frig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sweeten mine with
stevia and use whole milk about 2 oz. of coffee, two-three drops of stevia, and 2 oz.
of whole milk to a glass filled with ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now fix it to be favored by adding almond flavoring or such to the
coffee or purchased a flavored coffee and go from there to sit and drink your
refreshing iced coffee you made for the cost of one iced coffee at a coffee
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lasts me about three to five
days on hot summer days or very long hard not much sleep nights otherwise I
make it like once a week or every 10 days when I can.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-56899843994596759702012-08-27T15:56:00.000-07:002012-08-27T22:41:21.852-07:00Pin Interst started the day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Okay spent some time today on Pin interest. Did some laundry, and read some thing about how this Toshiba laptop has a way to get some free bokds on it. However for some reason all the books I want to read cost! Go figure, whemmm. Just my luck not to be a big classics fan or maybe t's just about me having read most of the free books offered. Read this to say-lived in boring little rual areas for years (decades really) where I read allot as some of the places only had 2 TV stations (NBC_ Klamath falls on the bounce) & ABC (Portland) in winter CBS-Portland & ABC (Eugene) summer) which were grainy at best and two radio stations to pick from until I was much more experienced in life (this means older). Read Pioneer Women's notes on blogging, today. She said to write in my own style. Okay, I must do that cause I do not play well with being something I am not. She said to write often, I am trying to get the knack of doing that. PW said to write about my life. Well it's the one I know the best that is what I am trying to do. She said to love my viewers. If you all loved closer I would have you all for coffee! or Lunch, Or TEA but something where we could chat. In my world having someone to share your meal with will that is loving you because I feed you (coffee means cookies, pies, lunch, sweet tea, tea, small cut out sandwiches with the crust cut off even I would do for you) being Luthern means to share a meal is to share God's Love and Word in action. I would even let you clean my house cuz I hate to clean alone and, well, we would talk as we did clean house maybe get a pizza to share and drinks so we could continue to have fun then next time we meet at your place to clean AKA gab. Then she said something that will be me hardest to do that is to spell good and use English also known as grammer correctly. If you know me you will know this is an area of my life I struggle with day in and day out. Well as I only know English I had part of that done, but the spelling and grammar part may be me hardest things for me to reach for and thrive doing. I will try and use spell check and there will be attempts at always using fair to good grammar with some funning now and then written in but I know I will write a he for a she and a to for too so "bear" with me and help me find those errors that are mine and my own to "bare". <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1ukOGcJu1w/UDv3Rw1BqbI/AAAAAAAABAI/As8FxogDGGE/s1600/248134_424652050890674_799423711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1ukOGcJu1w/UDv3Rw1BqbI/AAAAAAAABAI/As8FxogDGGE/s320/248134_424652050890674_799423711_n.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
I have been looking at chickens again for ordering. Old Army Man wants to have chickens again. He is also missing duck as one of our meats. His grandparents had a hunting lodge they had ducks and goose often in the fall and winter. Froze what they did not use for summer meals. I miss the taste of the home raised eggs. Duck or Chicken even the goose (or is it geese) eggs were tastier than those I get from the store now. We have free range poultry or did now we are fixing up an enclosure so the hawks and raccoons can be kept out and we get to keep our critters rather than be a smorgasbord for the wildlife nearby. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbEnEWZYvuU/UDv5LX-QUGI/AAAAAAAABAQ/Glhh1SEI7Ww/s1600/539323_257961974304773_979089768_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbEnEWZYvuU/UDv5LX-QUGI/AAAAAAAABAQ/Glhh1SEI7Ww/s320/539323_257961974304773_979089768_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
You know that I am even thinking of raising (gulp) fryers. Turkey, rabbit, guineas, duck, goose, and chicken. I love chicken and dumplings and old hens make such good chicken and dumplings. It may seem like it takes two days to get the flavor good and the meat soft, but it is something ever so good. Mom use to go get capon fryers now and then, even looking into how to raise (capon) them. I am liking the idea of a chicken plucker. Then would need a barn, and a...well a girl has to make her lists or there never will be hope. Just hoping I can live so long as to see and do the a few more of the things in life I hoped to do as a child. <br />
<br />
Better go now I feel like doing another load of dishes and well better get to it before the passion passes and we have lost all hope of dinner dishes for this evening. <br />
<br />
Take care, <br />
<br />
Old Mossback<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-9557708730017855922012-08-22T22:49:00.000-07:002012-08-27T15:59:11.686-07:00At least the dogs liked dinner!I had such great hope for dinner tonight, easy, microwave meal of food we both love. Alas somehow I missed the boat. Two plates needed rather than the one large platter was the first error. 2nd error, hubby not relating finger food with dinner. 3rd error, not making another dish hubby related as a meal. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gA7ismgbqEQ/UDXAtM1DzAI/AAAAAAAAA_o/Bc7jklSKvbk/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gA7ismgbqEQ/UDXAtM1DzAI/AAAAAAAAA_o/Bc7jklSKvbk/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I like nacho dinners now and then. Not asking for monthly or weekly, but a couple times a year just to feel out of the mold of this is dinner-meat or meat base casserole, salad, side dish carbs. I like dinner salads, soups, and stews for dinners. Husband thinks of these as starter courses. Now there are some things he likes that I just never have had or he finds he enjoys, but for the most part he has boundaries on what he thinks dinner is and expects it in his head. He does not mean to be so set however he is very set in his way of thinking in many ways. There is a reason I relate to him as Old Army Man. Rules were rules to guild you though situations all you had to find was the right book to guide you. Someone from above sent down the orders then others took and gave those orders into orders of action. Old Army Man was midway up the chain so he was one who did take and do some delegating however he was also low enough on the pole to feel some of the dirt run down hill now and again. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9FY4g7BXRs/UDXBqBVaH6I/AAAAAAAAA_w/L2pDKBhcYO8/s1600/titletextimage_1_img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9FY4g7BXRs/UDXBqBVaH6I/AAAAAAAAA_w/L2pDKBhcYO8/s1600/titletextimage_1_img.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Maybe it is just because he is in his last week of classes in community college after being out of college 3 decades that he is grumpy. Now getting those brain cells to open up to today's education system with computers, wireless systems, phones that have more power than we ever would have hoped to have in our lifetime power. Remember the first time you walked and talked on a wireless phone. I can recall having to sit by the phone and having a three foot cord with a 6 minute time limit or the phone company kicked you off the line no matter who you were talking to or why unless it was long distance than they loved charging you for long distance. You know long distance like the town 8 miles away. Yea I am on old piece of shoe leather. I had to learn to use a party line phone with an operated on it when I first learned to use the phone. Silly to think now I can 750 miles away and call my kids up and them not even know I am out of state. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUvYYp2AoKY/UDXD5HOqoOI/AAAAAAAAA_4/SjsOzDdoPdk/s1600/old-cellphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUvYYp2AoKY/UDXD5HOqoOI/AAAAAAAAA_4/SjsOzDdoPdk/s320/old-cellphone.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Progress is good do not get me wrong. I had a mammogram yesterday. I have odd shaped breasts in that they are not small two three picture each side breast. 5 positions latter on each side and at the angled view I am leaving. No pain, no long term smashing of the tissue, no hour to be in the odd positions. The pictures they can do now are wow. I was loving it. A course I was having a heat flash so I stunk up to high heaven. Poor gal taking the shots had to get up close to me several times. I had showered just minutes prior to getting into the car so I could be fresh and clean for the mammogram. The best laid plans of mice and men went out the door. Big heavy set ladies who are more round than tall in their 50's do have BO even on the best of times if they are hot, no a/c in auto, warm day, and having a heat flash. I had water dripping off my face so bad I had to wipe my face several times during the 20 minutes it took to take the images. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NiF4JSYOp_8/UDXAQbNcCXI/AAAAAAAAA_g/DHB8zagutTM/s1600/breast-cancer-s2-breast-cancer-illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NiF4JSYOp_8/UDXAQbNcCXI/AAAAAAAAA_g/DHB8zagutTM/s320/breast-cancer-s2-breast-cancer-illustration.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Cancer was the cause of death for both of my grandmothers you would think I would be more aware of things. I become overwhelmed by thinking to much on the topic. I have eaten home raised foods for the most part of my life until I went to work and stopped canning, freezing, and other methods of food preserving. Well this gets to deep if I go where this is leading we will cover this topic in later posts I am sure it will come up again. Eating right well for who you are happens to be a topic I can talk on for hours. <br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks for your time, enjoy the rest of the week. Until we meet again. <br />
<br />
Old Mossback. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-80395769383050271512012-08-22T15:13:00.000-07:002012-08-27T15:59:49.708-07:00Figuring it out. So I am reading about blogging, what, when, where, who, who not, what not, all messed up. <br />
<br />
Lots to learn. I see no one really knows what all is happening or that I even have a blog. How to promote. Yes, I need to promote. I am writing about myself, fears, family, sharing things I have not shared but with close friends or family. Now I need to promote myself. Yikes this idea is worse than sharing many of the "secrets" I have in my life. You know those private things that are not as private as they use to be due to social media like facebook, google 1+, diggs, myspace, blogger, you know what I am a trying to be telling ya. I find myself using poor English and out and out phases that just do not make the grade these past few weeks. Well lets see if I can get some things moving here so I can learn to be a better blogger, get a following, write better, heck maybe even show you more of my so life along with what makes me Mossback Tough. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: KaiTi;">Well time to get to making waves so I have some reason to get back on her after work Thursday. Friday out of town, Saturday three sets of people will show up to pick there pups. Evil house cleaning to do and much of the dang stuff to do also. Dishes yuks, laundry, need it done to have cloths to wear, yeps, Floors sweeps so others do not trip, Mopping the floors to remove that old dog smell. Let us know forget to clean the kitchen counters to make less places for those old mice to hide. I may even take pictures of before and after for you all. by now mossback...</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-39572878955499457502012-08-21T02:31:00.001-07:002012-08-21T02:32:18.907-07:00Off spring good and sorrows abound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BckvjmdHqL8/UDNSFQCD_EI/AAAAAAAAA-4/ERApR8oVktI/s1600/255311_4060587884036_350708625_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BckvjmdHqL8/UDNSFQCD_EI/AAAAAAAAA-4/ERApR8oVktI/s320/255311_4060587884036_350708625_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is one of this old Mossback Toughs offspring. He is a good size man, now. He is my first born. He took some time learning life's lessons, but his heart is good as big as his shoe. His name was picked out by his dad years prior to the sperm meeting the egg which formed this guy of mine. We grow them big on my side of the family which made his dad bubble with joy. Have you ever had a good kid turn away from the hope you had for them? Well, it was heart breaking for a while between us. The death of my husband, his dad, did not make matters any better. Not understanding each other, me to willing to believe the "stories" his issues put us into was trialing at best. Many of year of okay can we be family even if you don't like it occurred. He is sitting along the Oregon Coast around the 4th of July here. He was having a picnic with friends. I must say I am happy to claim him as my son again. Proud of him again feels good. For this I must say God answered prayers. I like this young man's quick wit, fun actions, and willingness to share the happiness most of all. It took a while, some miss steps by both of us along the way yet I have a son I am proud of without remorse today. Makes an old tough bag like me tear up now and again. You all come back now you hear, Old Mossback. <br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-61566552312786038582012-08-16T21:53:00.000-07:002012-08-16T21:53:39.166-07:00Mama's Chinese ChickenLove this so much we have gone to making a whole chicken cut up into smaller easier to handle pieces for this or we butcher out several chickens saving the backs and necks for stock, the breast will either be cut up into two or three pieces depending on if I took the wish bone cut on the the back of the chicken or not. The are times we have hit a huge sale and saved the breasts for later. I love the thighs cooks this way so they almost always go into this dish. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is one those recipes that came from someone years ago in college can we say back when shoulder pads were in style. Chicken wings were cheap food back in the day can you say 29 cents a pound so it feed a group for on the cheap. She had gotten it from someones mom that had gotten it out of a magazine or was it a back of a box of some sort what ever it was it is a keeper when you want to wow someone with a cold food addition. She showed me how to after the chicken was all fried up to then make what she called fried Chinese pancakes. Well, no matter what you call them, they may be the best part of being the one getting to cook the chicken. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I made this for my first husband when we went to the coast on one of our first dates. I won that man with my cooking on that day. I used this recipe leftover sauce and soaked beef, pork, turkey, wild game in. The pork is a close second to heaven done this way right after the chicken. The game birds were really nice well one can say nothing was turned away but the beef and ham were the last pieces to be eaten. Always a clean plate unless you cook an unreal amount. The recipe calls for only 2-3 pounds of wings well I used this to make 4-6 pounds of chicken with many a time doubling or more the recipe to meet the need groups of teenage boys rumbling tummies. My second husband had this one night after work when I was making it for a group meeting the next day when he came by to visit after a swing shift. I can only say he liked it so well the next time he came to my home he had the wedding rings in his pocket. (Not saying it will happen this way with you but heavens to Betsy I swear I am telling the truth to the best I can recall.) This recipe does take planing ahead as well as time, can be made ahead, is colorful, smells great, worse thing about it (after the fact it is fried) is garlic breath so make sure you have your love one eat a piece or two along with you. Over time I have made this my own so you know you can change things here and there to please your taste buds, but first make it this way before you start to change to much. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Recall I am new to this once I figure out how to make print this for recipes I will use it until them please be nice. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Chinese Fried Chicken </h3>
<br />
Severs 4 or more depending one on how many teenagers you have eating <br />
<br />
Oven temp 350 degrees F<br />
<br />
Sauce:<br />
2 T Sesame Seeds*<br />
4 T Flour<br />
8 T Cornstarch<br />
4 T Sugar*<br />
<strike>1/2t Accent</strike> I now omit due to MSG allergies<br />
1 & 1/2 t Salt*<br />
5 T Soy Sauce<br />
1 egg<br />
1 clove garlic or equivalent in dry form minced if fresh*<br />
2 green onions (scallions) things sliced*<br />
<br />
Mix everything together pour over <br />
<br />
2-4 lbs of chicken <br />
<br />
marinate. It will look gummy at first this is okay. Put in the frig from anywhere from 2 hours to several days depending on when I get a chance to fry up the chicken. Stir this every so often to get a good even coating on the meat.<br />
<br />
Oil enough to go half way up the side of a cast iron fry pan or several inches deep in a wok. (Lard or shortening works the best for a crispy coating) <br />
<br />
I like to use the wok as I have more control with the heat on my stove. Or I can do it outside on my side burner of the BBQ. Keeping the chicken warm under the cover until the baking rack is full. I have found if I use a cookie cooling rack in the sheet pan the oil drains off better and the chicken taste is not effected. The cookie rack I have is able to go into the over without a problem. Check ours to make sure yours can also if you use a rack. Parchment paper in the bottom of the sheet pan helps in clean up also. <br />
<br />
Fry the chicken until it reaching a light golden brown, remove from fryer, drain, place on sheet pan, place in warming over if using. Once chicken pieces are all cooked bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 50 min making sure chicken's largest pieces are cooked though. Place in the frig until you are ready to sever it them,. Now when you serve these stand back just to watch because it this gone in like 60 seconds. <em>Or so it seems for all the time and work you put into it. </em><br />
<br />
Now you say what are those * on some of the sauce ingredients? Things I did not have some times that I have left out or in the case of sugar used honey, rice syrup, or brown sugar. <br />
<br />
Remember that sauce you soaked the meat in, Well now is the time to address it. You have finally have all the chicken fried cooking in the oven. The grease is still hot now is time to use that hot grease (oil) to fry up pancakes in small dollar cake sizes and enjoy. Much bigger size than a silver dollar and they take take too long to cook and get way too greasy. Flip to cook each side of the "pancake" in the oil. Other times I will have the second group of meat going to start the in the batter and using only a few hours cook this up also to serve later. Sometime using or serving like chicken fried steak for breakfast or bunch with a quick reheat in the morning. <br />
<br />
T= Tablespoon<br />
t= teaspoon<br />
<br />
Well off to go make my batch so I can take pictures for you along the way. Recall many of the things I have cooked are old, from friends, family hand me downs, to wow I want to learn to be cutting edge like my favorite cooking stars I never get to see because we now use Roku for all our TV viewing enjoyment. <br />
<br />
Source: Mossback hand written recipe book. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana;">Come back soon you here in
the mean time Take Care, Mossback</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0901-999 S Santiam Hwy, Lebanon, OR 97355, USA44.5365119 -122.907033944.4912389 -122.9859979 44.5817849 -122.8280699tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-51049183771899701272012-08-13T19:51:00.000-07:002012-08-27T16:00:50.300-07:00Best laid plansEver have those plans where you say tomorrow I will get this done, then you wake up say I will get to it in a moment then that moment never comes. Yea that is today. Need to get the shelves done in the pantry so I can put pans on the shelves as the mice keep getting into the lower shelves causing messes. I have tried so many traps it is silly but when you live on a farm one has mice I accept that however it is the neighbors next door with three huge barns filled with grass seed straw that make control so hard. Our LGD (livestock guard dog) kills hundreds of mice and rats each week, the chickens, duck, and cats do their part also alas some if those nasty critters still make it into the house. Let get back to plans.<br />
<br />
Planned to make chili from scratch today. Was going to go shopping last night than I thought no no not until the counters are sorta cleaned off. Well it is 3 pm and they are not cleaned. I have pinned things of interest, facebooked for the business, farm, self, and even spent some time learning to twitter. I was awake at 8 am, 9:30 am, work up again at 12:30 pm told myself I needed the rest. I want a big cup of coffee but I am not getting to that end of the house to make it. I like the ice coffee as I tend to go make myself one but I need to make that also. I had plans to make it. <br />
<br />
Plans to clean the bathroom, make some things for the house and do some dishes and washing so I had clothing to wear. Old Army Man is up asking what is up meaning hey girl I want to see what is happening on my fb, website, email, and just see what the sport and political world has happening in it today. <br />
<br />
Yea I had plans to be all done with everything by now and sitting in a chair watching something on my roku or to be setting up my new roku in my office so I could fb, tweet, write to my heart's content while chili simmered and gave the house smells to make ones mouth water. Better go start on that counter. I may take pictures if I get things done. Write more later, OAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-33389945063775815292012-08-08T22:03:00.001-07:002012-08-08T22:03:54.578-07:00Finding a job at over 50Today went well. How was your day? Old Army man felt well enough to drive himself today. He took it easy, did not push it. His army disability is paying for him to attend local community college 3/4 time. He has a long way to go to be finished however he has a goal and hope of working again which at 55 plus may be a punishment or a blessing. He wants to work the farm so bad yet the pain will not go away if he is on his feet too much plus right now he is just under so many what if's from the doctors that we are falling the rehabs line of hope along with maybe he can work again some day. In our area of the country people 55 just do not seem to be hired then again just a few months ago unemployment was over 11% county wide with our area of the county closer to 17%. We live in a large Oregon County. <br />
<br />
Ever tried to rethink your life and it's goals. I work a 12 step program, have for 22 plus years now. My word it is hard. Sometime I have to adjust my life dreams and hopes to be more real other times I just need to allow myself to be in the moment, forgive myself. Experience starts to become an issue as you have too much, employment agencies state you should be looking at these types of jobs-high pay, leadership, jobs like state workers have and paid as good or better than them, yea right. In all the years I have looked no one I mean no one has said gee whiz girl you are too cute, able bodied, or too athletic to have this job. Rather I get well you are over qualified, ( you must be old) your are just not what we are looking for ( combo-not a knock out beauty, too fat, I am so fat it scares them, they see their insurance rates going up because of age, weight, or conditions), best of all is the I wish I knew of someone hiring cause you have so much to offer someone however you just will not fit in here. (See above). I have had people hire me nearly sight unseen, they have loved my work once they got past the oh my she is heavy, old, gray haired hum, or other reservations. I have gotten great responses from them however seems these jobs just did not work out due to the changing economic climate in most cases. So I now work a job that requires someone in my state to hold a licence's to work at that job. I only work tax season but it is a job that does not pay out right well but better than any other I have been offered in the past 5 years. About 10 years ago I started looking for something to be a second "job" one of my own making say a business I could work at between tax seasons. I had several things I was researching when I meet my husband and well farming came back as an option. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gP2fndUBkjc/UCNEeB5ZkSI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/I5peiqOY-oo/s1600/6-10-12+pup+pictures-+ring+reese+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gP2fndUBkjc/UCNEeB5ZkSI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/I5peiqOY-oo/s320/6-10-12+pup+pictures-+ring+reese+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I attended Oregon State took courses which would have lead me to be an agriculture extension agent related work. Alas 18 months after I had gotten my diploma the state started changing how or who they hired. I needed a Masters degree to even apply. Shot here I was two kids in diapers, drink unemployed abusive carpenter husband #1, who had been told by the college when I went back 3 yrs later I needed to update my college skills before entering the masters program. I had a 12 day old baby when I walked down the concourse to get my degree handed to me. Seems all those job apps I had been applying for just did not know how to take my degree. I am holding anger over choices I made. I have drank over them plus other choices I have made. Seemed each time I started to make headway something got in the way. It took years but I know now I need to be the one making my way in the world not asking people to make my way in the world. I make my own way. Not something corp America likes to hear, drives my boss nuts during tax season as I am a bit of a maverick. I can read his reports he allows us to read, I had economics, business, and math, along with social insight classes. I have read the results of the reports as I see them and being able to read some of the writing on the wall. I have had to learn to wait to respond to the boss when I work for others. I love the freedom to work for myself there are months I earn more working for myself then I do working for the "man" however I still am not sure enough to go it alone without the safety net of a job to help cover the expenses most of the year. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6NWhlOylaw/UCND1Jiy6AI/AAAAAAAAA-I/7nifc4GnCko/s1600/6-10-12+pup+pictures-+ring+reese+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6NWhlOylaw/UCND1Jiy6AI/AAAAAAAAA-I/7nifc4GnCko/s320/6-10-12+pup+pictures-+ring+reese+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
I like doing it on my own. Being the one who knows the market, advertises, does sales, research which can be the best side of this being self employed equation. Then there is the promotion of my bit of heaven. Dog trails, livestock auctions, the everyday wonderful God bless them real people. No one trying to stab me in the back in the next office, no one telling me Not to go there, but watching to see if it works. I can name many ways not to raise sheep in the Willamette Valley. I can tell you dozen of ways how not treat to allow your livestock guard dog to behave or acts one should not allow them to see. I can tell you which types of goats I am liking and willing to spend time around. I learned I miss the smell of a horse on the place. Calves can cause as much laughter as baby lambs. I don't get to hold the calves as long on my lap as I do the lambs but then again calves are not as often coming into the house looking for me like the goats and sheep do. Chickens are great. Ducks actions bring smiles. Geese can eat loads of grass. Things I find heart warming. Grand kids love to feed the baby livestock, run around seeing all the sights we have on our small acreage. I love my ATV plan and simple. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7JuK3uVMWY/UCNEJzmMf8I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/Fx_X7Vfj4Ro/s1600/6-10-12+pup+pictures-+ring+reese+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7JuK3uVMWY/UCNEJzmMf8I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/Fx_X7Vfj4Ro/s320/6-10-12+pup+pictures-+ring+reese+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Better go now. I have spent the day removing mouse droppings as I moved things around on the pantry shelves finding 3 places those buggers have chewed though the wall to get into that room. Old metal shelves where on the floor moving and cleaning those not fun. Taking the time to sort out old stuff, do I need that in here questions, and just adjusting life to live it a bit better. Need to go into town and get some drywall maybe steel wool so these mice will not chew back though the walls where I patch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ-dvvkvqAw/UCNEp5UVs9I/AAAAAAAAA-k/pzllU6uZLGE/s1600/264386_124765387607829_7057845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ-dvvkvqAw/UCNEp5UVs9I/AAAAAAAAA-k/pzllU6uZLGE/s320/264386_124765387607829_7057845_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Old Moss had better go finish this blog as it is nearly 10 pm and I work in the morning. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044144261993631112.post-42537137242054470782012-08-07T16:47:00.001-07:002012-08-07T16:47:17.145-07:00I have started my blog. Now what?<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mossback Tough starts today with a bite of freedom for a change. These last three years has had me driving more than riding with my husband places. Old army man has had better days leaving me to test each morning to see how the wind blows with him. Why you may ask am I calling myself Mossback Tough? A mossback is an old bull that has been around so much he has moss growing on him. Well I am tough, I feel the weather more now than decades ago, I have been tested time and again, plus I just keep going for one reason or another. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-flDSsj6cKiA/UCGn-h3EHeI/AAAAAAAAA8k/AguyUeL1al4/s1600/8162843044086742_TUS7miHj_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-flDSsj6cKiA/UCGn-h3EHeI/AAAAAAAAA8k/AguyUeL1al4/s320/8162843044086742_TUS7miHj_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana;">Leaving in Western Oregon I have owned clothing left out in the spring or fall that has growing moss on it. When I lived in the coast range I would leave college in the morning pulling old man's beard moss down to get into the car under the oak trees then on the way back I would have to stop somedays and pull the old's man's beard moss off the tree limbs so I could get back to the small cabin we lived in back them. 28 acres of timberland with a 3 acre field and a two acre house and garden area around the small old wood heated cabin in the woods that had a small barn we had to pass by to get home. There were streams to cross and miles of unpaved roads to travel to get home each night after work. We raised over an acre of garden, a few head of sheep, a few horses, and trouble of our own doing back then by the time we had two children I had finish college, the depression of the 80's and the spotted owl forced us out of the cabin and into city living. Strange what things like pizza delivery and a store closer than 7 miles away can do to a lifestyle.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RzEFtQE6XHY/UCGomBXvyUI/AAAAAAAAA80/RkrO1yTbor4/s1600/558508_10100780884118929_1117285803_nhop+w+frezebee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RzEFtQE6XHY/UCGomBXvyUI/AAAAAAAAA80/RkrO1yTbor4/s320/558508_10100780884118929_1117285803_nhop+w+frezebee.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFjXRRS6fCM/UCGoKTPIOPI/AAAAAAAAA8s/-c8Zb7wIuJs/s1600/248134_424652050890674_799423711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFjXRRS6fCM/UCGoKTPIOPI/AAAAAAAAA8s/-c8Zb7wIuJs/s320/248134_424652050890674_799423711_n.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana;">I hope to cover tough times and hope of recovery, life and death, today and yesterday, not sure what I need to say just that I am to do this blog. I will stumble, fall not sure it will go anywhere lets just say for now it is mine. Something I must do for myself. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJkE6uQ7yzY/UCGo26eNiEI/AAAAAAAAA88/aGziMOiHJbo/s1600/314096_463174257035832_1982135748_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJkE6uQ7yzY/UCGo26eNiEI/AAAAAAAAA88/aGziMOiHJbo/s320/314096_463174257035832_1982135748_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana;">I will try and find from time to time things I do that lead to a better life, follow our improvents on our bank repo we purchased, our animals, our goals, children and grandchildren, things that make life go around be it church events, cowboy life, or things that move me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana;">Come back soon you here in the mean time Take Care, Mossback</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557166198935348802noreply@blogger.com0