I did it…

I got the cleaning all done.  I had to stop about once each 10 minutes to rest my back, but I got it done.  I know I will have to clean again next week but that is OK.

The lemon cream cheese bars are done and ready to be chilled so that I can cut them.  Note the old dish the bars were baked in.  It is Pyrex and was a wedding shower gift about 100 years ago. 

I only make these bars when I know my son is coming for a visit.  I love anything with a lemon flavor so I can’t be trusted to make them when I am here alone.   My very favorite dessert is lemon meringue pie.

The heat is supposed to break a record for today to reach 97 degrees.  I am not going out today.  I will have to go out tomorrow to get the last minute grocery items.  So I think I will rest on my laurels, whatever that means.  Hold on a sec, I am going to Google it and find out.

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“Laurels were once given as an honor for achievement--think of Roman senators wearing crowns of laurels. One who "rests on his laurels" is content with present, or past, achievements. Though laurels are positive, one who rests on them is considered lazy.”

*****

So just consider me lazy today.  lol  You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

 

The Tree

My monthly picture of the tree between me and the cemetery.


4 January 2012 4 February 2012


4 March 2012 light dusting of snow                4 April 2012


4 May 2012                                      4 June 2012



8 July 2012 Notice how brown the grass is.     4 August 2012, still no rain to speak of.

60% chance of rain for tonight. Doing a rain dance.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Friday Bonanza…

bo·nan·za/bəˈnanzə/

Noun:

1. A situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits.
2. A large amount of something desirable: "the festive feature film bonanza".

Synonyms: prosperity

 *****
I am just home from shopping the specials at Food Depot today.  All kinds of Freshlike vegetables were on sale for 49 cents with a limit of 12.  I bought 12 cans because I foresee a steep increase in the coming months.  Several other brand name items that I use were on sale also.  My total bill was $34.80.



   
The store and my loaded cart.  Once a month Food Depot has a tremendous sale like this. It is going to be another hot day with maybe a tiny chance of rain tomorrow.  We shall see. 

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Real tomatoes…

YES!!  These are real tomatoes sent to me from my son in law’s brother and his wife from their garden.  THANKS!!! Tim and Val.  Now if only I had a zucchini.  Jim and I always had a garden.  Not a big one, but big enough that we always had plenty of tomatoes to share with our neighbors.  Even after Jim died I would go out to our garden area each spring and hoe up a big enough space to plant 4 or 5 tomato plants.  All I have room for here are potted tomato plants  This year the heat killed them even though they were watered daily.

Our garden at home.

I have to go out this morning to the pharmacy and to run a couple of errands. It is to be mid 90s today.  We have had 26 days this month with over 90 temps which ties a record from 1887.  Out of those 26 days over a week was triple digit highs.  We are way below normal rainfall and our whole state along with many other states are drought disasters.

Have a peaceful day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

50% chance fizzled…

out.

fizzles3rd person singular present, plural of fiz·zle

Verb:

End or fail in a weak or disappointing way: "their revolt fizzled out".

Noun:

A failure.

We didn’t get one drop of rain here.  Some places around here got a few drops but nothing to speak of.  Our grass is the color of wheat now.

*****

Have you ever noticed that a complete stranger will stop you and tell you their problems??  In the Kroger store this morning I noticed one of the lady workers pushing a lift with a heavy cart on it.  I said hi and I bet that was a good workout for her figure.  She stopped pushing and told me about her trips to the doctor and that it was discovered that she had bone spurs in both knees.  I listened patiently because I know how painful bone spurs are.  I have them in my neck, back and both ankles.  I didn’t tell her my sad story, I just told her that I was so sorry.  It really is easier to tell a total stranger things that you don’t discuss even with your family.

And on the way to the store I had 3 cars pull out right in front of me from stop signs and 2 that pulled out in front of me on the way home.   The street I was on is all through traffic.  The thought does cross my mind to speed up a little bit and give them a scare.  That is dangerous so I never do.  The thought is there however.

I have a whole chicken cooking so that I will have something healthy to eat this week.

I hope you all have a good week.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Here I am again…

I know I said I wouldn’t but here I am again complaining  no, just commenting, that yesterday’s actual temperature of 104 degrees is getting to be a little bit too much.  Everything is so dry and brown here except my front yard which maintenance is keeping watered.  I think that is one reason I feel out of sorts.  The heat is wearing me out and giving me cabin fever. 

My daughter is coming over today and is going to help me clean out the big closets in my bedrooms.  I am planning on sending a lot more stuff to Goodwill.  But first I have to go and find me some breakfast.

Breakfast finished.  Low sodium, low fat, no sugar cereal with a banana.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.  NOT! 

*****

Closets cleaned and 5 garbage bags full of clothes, some electrical appliances, shoes and books all delivered to Goodwill.  I barebones cleaned out the clothing.  If I haven’t worn it in the last 2 years it went.  Enough for a really good garage sale.

I fixed a bacon tomato sandwich for lunch.  The tomato wasn’t bad but still not tasting like the real thing even though they were from local producers.  The local peaches though were really delicious.

I have a ton of papers to shred from 2 files I found in one of the closets.

I will be by to visit you all later.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Sunday morning…

and a bit drizzly outside.  I think I counted about half a dozen rain sprinkles when I took the garbage out a few minutes ago.  This is not to be confused with rain.  And even though I have gotten used to it and promised not to mention it, it is to be upper 90s to low 100s for the next 8 days.  Not mentioning it, just saying!

Life does go on despite the senseless killings in the movie theater.  We each have our own problems to deal with that remain forefront in our minds.  Reading the paper or watching TV we see the horror replayed over and over and our minds go back to the victims and their families and the terrible grief they are bearing.  I grieve with them.

I have the barbeque on cooking for the sandwiches which I am serving on onion buns.  The potato salad is made and the baked beans are put together, ready to fix.  The cherry pie is sliced, and even though tempted I didn’t take a bite.  Most likely because my tummy is a bit barfy this morning.  lol  I thought about going to the store this morning for some vanilla ice cream for the pie but I decided I was too lazy.

I have one chapter left in my Sandford book of 401 pages.  This means I will have to start a new book this evening.

I hope you are all having a peaceful weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Today…

I am doing a guest post on http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/ for Kathy.  I have never done anything like this before.  Kathy fixed the pictures in my post and I want to thank her for that.  Please visit Kathy’s blog.  I am sure you will enjoy it as it is so peaceful and lovely.  Thank you again Kathy for allowing me to share your beautiful blog today.

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It is to be another hot humid day.  The official temperature for yesterday was 101 with the heat index much higher.  There were storms all around us but we didn’t get anything.  I think the most rain any of them got was less than 1/10 of an inch.  Like a drop in the ocean.

Yesterday I found out that one of my blogging friends lives and works in the general area in western Illinois where I grew up.  Thanks to her I now know that the Dairy Queen that I patronized when I was in high school is still there.  I haven’t been back to that area since a family member’s funeral.  Sadly I also found out that the Student Prince where my friends and I hung out on occasion is no longer there.  I am guessing the town square is still intact.  I spent many a dollar for gas for my 53 pea green Plymouth so that we could sit on the square with the motor idling and watch the cars go by.  Shades of Norman Rockwell.

My sis from WV just called me with several names to add to my personal prayer list.  My thoughts and prayers will be with them all.  Also, my sister Rae, love you for your sweet self and kind heart.

You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Waiting Wednesday…

Hump day has arrived.  That is what we called it in my working days.  Tomorrow is p**p  (S.H.I.T.) day and so forth.  I learned all kinds of things when I worked for the military.  Like how to use an occasional cuss word in Spanish when something didn’t go right.  One of my bosses was from Texas.  She spoke fluent Spanish and when she was irritated she would go into a tirade in that language.

*****

ti·rade/ˈtīrād/

Noun:

A long, angry speech of criticism or accusation: "a tirade of abuse".

*****

It wasn’t long before I learned some phrases to use when I was aggravated.  I still remember them all, I just won’t mention them here.  SGT. A was one of the best bosses I have ever had.  She was honest and didn’t beat around the bush when she wanted to get a point across.  Some of my bosses at the AFB could only be described as horse’s patooties.

*****

patootiesplural of pa·too·tie (Noun)

Noun:

1. A girlfriend or a pretty girl.
2. derogatory. A person's or animal's buttocks.

*****

But that is all in the past.  Today, in the present, I was at the hospital at 6:30 AM for lab work.  My daughter was with me.  We went to Steak  ‘n ‘ Shake for breakfast, and now I am home for the day. 

Mid to upper 90s predicted for the rest of this week and next with no rain in sight.  Our governor has declared Illinois a drought disaster state.  He toured some of the counties in southeastern Il a couple of days ago.  He opened an ear of corn and there were no kernels.  This is bad folks.  Illinois is right in the center of the corn belt.  Think of all of the things made from corn.  We will pay for this next year.

Try to stay cool and thank God that you are here to complain about the heat.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

The Tree…

with my monthly picture of the tree between me and the cemetery.  The photo should have been taken on the 4th of July.  Sorry about that.  I will just blame it on the heat wave.

    

4 January 2012                                                         4 February 2012

    

4 March 2012  light dusting of snow                                     4 April 2012

   

4 May 2012                                            4 June 2012

   

8 July 2012  Notice how brown the grass is.  4 August 2012, still no rain to speak of.

60% chance of rain for tonight.  Doing a rain dance.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Is today the end…

of this miserable heat wave?  I keep hearing this on the weather reports and in the news.  I will believe it when it happens.  Yesterday our actual temperature at 5 PM was 105 degrees.  I feel an extreme case of cabin fever even though I have gone out each day and done the necessary things.  I am feeling exhausted each day.  I must remind myself of all of this when it is the dead of winter and I am longing for spring.  I really like the spring and fall in Illinois.  I tolerate summer and winter.  This year we had no spring as it immediately was hot in March.  Now I am hearing no fall.  PLEASE!!!!

Now what to do today to keep busy?  I have read several books this past week and watched a few movies on TV; putzed around and generally overate.

*****

intr.v. putzed, putz·ing, putz·es Slang

To behave in an idle manner; putter.

*****

As for overeating, what is for lunch?  I will have to look in my freezer and give that some thought.  For supper last night I fixed a big lettuce salad with boiled egg, shredded cheese, tomato and ranch dressing.  I had a peach for dessert.  It was good but I don’t do well with so much fresh stuff at once.

I hope it is cool wherever you are.  If so, send it along to central Illinois along with at least 2 inches of rain.

Do stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Short and..

and not so sweet because I am just home after being out in this dreadful heat.  It is in the 90s already and to climb to actual temperature of 103 –104. 

I had a test done at the hospital and then I went to Food Depot to pick up a few things.  Their brand of canned vegetables were all 38 cents a can.  I have used the store brand before and I think the quality compares to name brand.  I am picky and will not buy some store brands.

I hope you are all staying  in where it is cool.  It is too hot to be out very long.  I felt kind of funny this morning as I was out moving around in the heat.

I will try and get caught up with you all now.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Tenacious Thursday…

and the heat wave just keeps on keeping on.  We are fortunate here in central  Illinois as we are just having the terrible heat.  My nephew in Charleston WV has been without electricity  since last Friday night after a powerful thunder storm.  He had to discard a freezer and refrigerator full of food.  My heart goes out to those still suffering from power outages.  This heat wave is supposed to break next Monday and I hope that it does.

Yesterday was an uneventful day.  I heard all of the fireworks last night but didn’t go anywhere to watch them.  I even had the TV off and read while I listened to the loud booms.  And America is a year older!

This morning I do have to get out to mail some letters and early tomorrow morning I have another test at the hospital. 

Some news in the morning paper has led me to another rant.  At Hallendale Beach Florida a lifeguard, Thomas Lopez, helped save a drowning man and got fired for it.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/04/tomas-lopez-lifeguard-fired-hallandale-beach_n_1649803.html.  if you haven’t read this you have to click on the link and read it.  Thomas, my hat is off to you!

And another newsworthy thing.  I got a beautifully embossed thank you card from Sherman’s, the place where I purchased my TV last month.  Are they out for more business or what??  I saw on the internet that the Better Business Bureau had given this store an A+ rating.  My thank you note had a handwritten message in it signed by one of the biggies.  Terrible handwriting but the thought was there and my faith in mankind upped a little bit.

I do need to get going before it gets any hotter.  Predicted high for today actual temp is 101.

Stay cool and stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

More oppressive heat..

in store for most of the nation for the next week.  Yesterday we had a thunderstorm with big booms that left us only a trace of rain.  Then boom it was gone and the sun was out again.  My WV sis reports massive power outages for several counties around them because of the tremendous thunderstorm that went through there Friday evening.  Their roof was damaged and because of the widespread claims they won’t have an adjuster to check the damage until July 9th.

I am just back from visiting the fruit/vegetable stand .  Below you see Georgia peaches and Arkansas tomatoes.

Don’t they look gorgeous.  My two tomato plants are so stressed I doubt if I will get a tomato from them.

I hope today is a peaceful one for you all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Too Hot to Trot…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Hot_ta_Trot
 
Since it is going to be a blazing hot day I decided to share a recipe with you all from the recipe blog that I have on wordpress.  http://bethmariesrecipes.wordpress.com/
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Drop Biscuits

This recipe is from the Betty Crocker cookbook that I received as a wedding shower gift over 50 years ago. I have mentioned before how it is held together now with duct tape. I made these biscuits when Jim and I were just starting out with nothing but each other.

• 2 cups of flour
• 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Mix together and cut in finely 6 tablespoons of shortening.
Stir in 1 cup of milk. Drop from spoon onto greased pan or into greased muffin cups.
Have oven preheated to 450 degrees. Bake about 10 minutes.

This is exactly how the recipe reads in the cookbook.

This recipe consistently gets the most hits each day of any recipe I have posted on my blog.

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Stay cool you all!  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth