Black Friday Is In The Books

Well Black Friday is over. What a spectacle. I cannot believe what some people will do for  cheap crap from China. Things that they probably don't even need and really can't afford. I watched the Black Friday crowds standing in long lines and almost all of them had their heads down playing on their iphones.  Interaction with those around them seemed to be minimal.   I watched them turn into savages as the doors opened.  Pushing and shoving. screaming and cussing and running over each other for a TV they probably don't even need.  I watched as fights nearly broke out over a set of POTS AND PANS.  Pots and pans? I suppose they need something to cook their GMO laden processed foods in.

You saw how people acted when their food stamp cards suddenly wouldn't work. It took no time at all for all hell to break out once they all jumped on their obammaphones and called all their friends and relatives to come to Wal-Mart for the free goodies. Again, no cares as to the consequences of their actions. 
You've probably heard about the Knockout Game.   Gangs   will roam the street looking for a white victim.   Innocent people just walking down the street are picked out and suddenly sucker punched squarely in the face with the intent to knock the victim out. And then they all laugh and hoot and give high fives.  I figure that one day soon they'll pick  the wrong person to mess with and someones going to get killed.

 What the hell has happened to this society?  It seems a majority of people no longer have any sort of moral compass at all.   The "me first" attitude has grown people who only care about themselves. People who will do just about anything anymore with no thought of the consequences of their actions and certainly no empathy for their fellow human beings.

Why should they though when even the POTUS is given to lying and only caring about his own personal agenda. I watch as each generation seeming to loose more and more of their inhibitions and human compassion.  There  has become a sort of a no give a shit attitude in this country. It's all about "me" with absolutely no care at all for others. If called out on it they will invariably try to put the blame on someone else's shoulders. Why not! It's what their illustrious leader does.

Can you just imagine just how bad it will be if those same people didn't have food on their table?  When there is nothing left in the stores except empty shelves?  Have you any doubt that chaos would soon follow?

 

Turkey Day is Finally Here!!!

 I'd like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah! Do you happen to know just how often the two holidays share the same day? I had to do a bit of detective work (read web search) and found an interesting tid-bit of information.

"The last time the confluence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah happened was 1888. This year it occurs Nov. 28, which is the second night of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration.
The next time it will occur? Hold on to your dreidels: By some calculations, it won't be for another 79,043 years, thanks to disparities between the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars."

Pretty neat huh? 

Talk to you all soon, I've got things to burn kitchen duty!!!  Take a look at all the wonderful things in your life today.  There's always tomorrow to do your worrying.
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Happy Thanksgiving,
Sci

Baby It's Cold Outside

Chili Stuffed Baked Potato

I think we are as ready as we can be for the big cold front moving in.  It's supposed to be bringing us high temps in the 20's and lows in the OMG ITS FREEZING.  It looks like most all of the country is going to be affected by this front as it moves to the east.  There are already deaths associated with this storm.  So batten down the hatches, check your supplies and make sure your all your critters are taken care of as well.

   I truly hope we don't loose power as our main heat source is electric.  It's something that we need to take care of as money allows.  A secondary heat source I mean.  If worse comes to worse we can always use the oven for warmth as it runs on propane.  We sure don't have to worry about ventilation as this old RV has very little insulation.  No matter how much we try to insulate it  will never be "air tight".  If the power does go out for an extended period of time there is always the wood stove in the barn That sucker can put out some heat and we've got wood stacked for it too.

 Do you have some meals that you like to make when it's cold out?  I always think of a big pot of chili when the weather turns cold. And this is definitely chili weather.  I made a big pot yesterday along with a pot of beans.  I wasn't sure if I wanted chili or chili beans so I made some just in case! Today I think I'll make some cornbread to go with the left-overs. I made a big pot just so we could have it for a few meals.  I like left over chili on a bed of rice. Or Chili Con Huevos.  Or chili stuffed baked potatoes. There are many takes on chili around the country.  Neither of us believe that chili should have beans in it. If you want beans in your chili then its called chili beans not chili!  I'm just sayin..... 

So how do you make chili in your neck of the woods?   Beans?  No Beans?  Red Chili?  White Chili?  Hot? Mild? Big pots or Small batches?  Winter meal or year round? 
    

Five Star Banana Bread

This time of year I always seem to get bit by the baking bug. I'm sure it's the same for lots of folks.  What with the holidays right around the corner and a chill in the air it's time to dust off my baking skills (which are negligible) and fire up the oven.   I've been craving banana bread.  Not to mention I've got a bunch of bananas in the freezer I'd like to use up.  I've been experimenting for years with different banana bread recipes, trying to find "The One".   While there are hundreds of recipes out there I finally settled on the one I'm going to share with you today. I've made this one several times over the past couple of years and it makes a couple of wonderful loaves of yummyness.

Banana Bread

3 1/2 cups of All-Purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter ( or sub 1 cup of shortening if you'd rather)
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups of very ripe mashed bananas
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease two 9x5 loaf pans.
In a big bowl beat the butter and gradually add your sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in mashed banana's and vanilla.
In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Blend into the banana batter.  If you want to add nuts, now is the time.  Divide the batter between the two greased pans.
Pop it into the hot oven.  Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the center of the loaves comes out clean.

Here's where I like to start a pot of coffee and pour me a cup.  Cut a slice of banana bread and enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee just to make sure it's done.  Cut another slice to double check for quality control. Then and only then consider maybe... just maybe... sharing with the rest of the family.

Uhmmm...

I've seen around the blogosphere that some folks are doing this 30 Days of Thanksgiving.  Or something like that. Am I the only one who would start doing this and a few days later think  "Oh man.... I need to catch up on that" .  Only to find yourself thinking it of it again while you are stuffing the Thanksgiving turkey?  That's me.

I don't say it nearly enough but one of the things I'm thankful for are you guys.  It amazes me that there are so many wonderful folks all around the country that stop by here.  I'd like to say thanks to you guys who have recently hit that button up there. And an even bigger thanks for those of you who have been along for the ride for awhile. I didn't know what I was doing back then and I sure don't know what I'm doing now.  So I just want to say thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to stop by!

Thanks!

I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to Sue over at The Little Acre That Could for having me as a guest over at her Food Storage Fridays yesterday.  She did me a huge favor and dusted off and older post of mine and polished it up till it was all bright and shiny!!!  I had the honor of being her first guest "poster" (?) on her excellent Series.   So ya'll go check out The Little Acre That Could and be sure to say hello to Sue for me ok?  And be sure to check out her bi-monthly series.  You just might learn something new!

Fall Fall Fall

Are you adjusting to the time change yet?  Yeah?  Me either.  The hardest part for me has to be the shortening of the days as Fall moves right along.  I keep running out of daylight.  No worries though, most any of the critters are quite happy to remind me that the sun's going down and there's no dinner in their respective bowl, feeder, etc. 
 
It's supposed to be beautiful here for the next several days. A bit windy but then it's Fall.  I wonder when I'll actually stop thinking like a transplanted Texan and stop saying things like "I can't believe I'm wearing layers this time of year".  Or "Wow, it's so pretty" while watching the leaves turn red, orange, yellow.  Sometimes I hope that I never really get *used* to it.  That each season will continue to be a new and exciting thing. 

As I sit here with my 3rd cup of coffee and my trusty pen and to-do list  I'm almost ready to start the day.  Almost.  LOL  My list of to-do things is taking on a slightly different Fall type slant.  I'm still adjusting to NOT going out in the garden first thing after the dew dries. I look forward to some time to do some crocheting and a bit of knitting.  Easy stuff of course. I've got some yarn found cheap at a garage sale I can use.  I've started a lapgan with bits and pieces of leftover yarn.  Yarn isn't very high on the list when your budget is as tight as it is around here. I might actually pick up some double pointed needles though and try those socks that a reader suggested.    Of course that would mean a trip to town AND a stop at a big box store. (Two of my most favorite things to do.  NOT!!!) 

I had another "procedure" on my back this week and I admit I do feel better.  Although my back issues are genetic and I know things will eventually and progressively get worse, I'm finding some welcome relief for now. Just another thing I'm thankful for this month.

Today's agenda includes bread baking day, a couple of loads of laundry, (I'm going to take advantage of this beautiful sunshine and wind to dry them) I've got a roast in the crock-pot so dinner will be easy peasy, go pull up some of the death by frost plants and haul them to the compost bins, start "winterizing" the outdoor kitchen stuff, (which really just means I need to get things picked up and put away) maybe make some cookies and get my "yarn fix" in. Much more than that probably wont be done around here today!

Do you remember last month when Mars DVD player took a dump?  We ordered one from Ebay and it came in two weeks later.  Hooked that baby up and it worked exactly 5 times and died.  Sent back and waited almost two weeks for a replacement.  This one didn't work AT ALL.  So back it went and finally just this week, they kindly gave me a refund but would not reimburse my shipping. *sigh*   Another DVD player from another company has been ordered.  Due to arrive in the next few days.  It seems silly for me to keep Netflix active but each time I think we will be back to watching our nightly movie, well... 
                                 I'm still waiting.........

TSA Shooting

The TSA shooting last week is still in the news and very much on my mind.  I know a bunch of you will probably see what I'm thinking.  I also know there will be those who will call folks like me a twisted conspiracy theorist. (again)  At this stage in the game I don't think it matters much to me.  Call me what you will.  I'll still get up in the morning and go do my chores and do all the other mundane things that life requires of folks. A theory is a theory, a fact is a fact.

 But you just watch what is about to unfold. Because of that TSA shooting they will start clamoring to be armed.  It's bad enough they are already moving out of the "airport" realm and out on our streets. Of course they want guns.   Maybe some of those  BILLION bullets that the DHS purchased will help out the TSA.

Do you remember this?  Cause I sure do.  It rings in my ear each time I hear of all the alphabet agencies stepping up and stomping our personal liberties all in the name of safety.

In July of 2008, presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama stated that Americans could no longer “…continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
Let me just repeat that last line... We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.” 

I'm pretty sure we are well on the way.

And if that's not enough to send me over the edge 

... Check this one out and consider the consequences.

Last US lead smelter closing in Missouri; 145 jobs lost

Let that sink in for just a minute...