Filling the World With Negativity

Oh, my gosh....I've been reading FB comments on a particular picture. I guess I really shouldn't bother with reading the comments, but curiosity killed the cat, you know. Why do people put such negative thoughts out there? Is everyone angry these days? Certain people are trashed no matter what they do. They are blamed for everything under the sun. They just have to blink and something bad is written, accompanied by a picture. The media looks for the most horrendous picture of the individual and puts it out there to accent a negative writing about said person. People seem to enjoy passing on negative information without even checking the authenticity. They receive an offensive email and dash to the keys to send it on to their friends. People are quick to blame...."Not my fault." FB is a public forum.... it gives people courage to say what they wouldn't say to your face. I love FB because I enjoy seeing pictures of family members and also reading posts about things I'm interested in. I've enjoyed several recipes that were posted as well. I only put family pictures there and pictures of flowers etc. I guess my contribution would seem uninteresting to those who love to paint a negative picture of another person. It seems that no one is worried about the way they look to other people. Putting their negativity out there makes them look bad to others. Who would want a friend or and employee who fills the world with lies?

Balisha

Fabulous Four and the 4th of July

Here are the fabulous four. They are wonderful grand kids. Always busy and so many different interests. How are they spending the 4th? Here's a brief tale for each.

Tyler is a member of a group called Project Two. He is in college and has been a part of this group since 2007, when they were called the Jersey Kids. Tyler is the one in the middle.  Go on the internet to find out information on this very successful group. They were busy this 4th with a concert at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I heard that it was a wonderful concert. They had the perfect day for it.

Collin, who is still in high school loves the out of doors. He and his friends have been at my daughter's lake house all week. She just arrived yesterday....and more company is coming today. Collin and friends are in the canoe. Collin is on the far left. They got her potter's wheel out and make some pottery. I'll show pictures sometime next week.

Here's the new bride. Xoie got married this summer and lives in No. Carolina. When she married Kyle....she got a bonus...a little boy named Cliff who calls her mommy. She's such a happy wife and mom. I'm sure she's doing all kinds of mommy things on this first 4th of July with her little family. I miss her.

Last, but not least, the oldest....Sydney. She and her boyfriend, Dave made a cross country drive to Seattle for a friend's wedding. She has posted pictures of their trip on FB at every stop. I almost felt like I was with them. The latest news from the road.....a phone call saying that Dave proposed, and gave Syd a beautiful ring. No date set for this happy couple. They are going to a rodeo today and will be on their way home after that.

So, now you know what all my grands are doing. Each one is different. They had parents who cultivated their differences and gave them so many unique experiences when they were growing up. I think that John and Karen did a terrific job raising these kids. Happy 4th to all of you...be safe.

Love you,

Grandma

Shivering Pets

Here's John and one of his 4th of July creations. He has made a couple of delicious desserts for this holiday...full of whipped cream and fresh fruits.
I have a little poem that I wrote just for this special day. Not your run of the mill patriotic poem, but a message that is important.

Shivering Pets by Balisha

It was the 4th and all was quiet..it was a peaceful sight..
Everyone was getting ready to celebrate tonight.
The food was ready...it looked so yummy..
We all were ready to fill our tummys.
When out of the blue a loud, loud sound..
It came so fast as I turned around.
The cake in my hand began to slip..
I almost dropped it as it hit my hip.
When I looked down at the floor below...
I saw our pup just shaking so.
He shivered and shook..his eyes teared up..
I picked him up and hugged that pup.
He looked at me with eyes of dread..
He ran away and went under the bed.
I left him there and shut the door...
Firecrackers, sparklers, rockets and more.
I went back to check him and he was gone..
I looked all around till he was found.
He was in the closet... under some clothes..
I found him shaking...he had a wet nose.
I sat with him on the closet floor..
Gave him a hug and told him once more.
"There, there little dog...it will soon be done..
Tomorrow you'll play and have some fun."
It didn't help my dog that day..
So, here I am and I want to say.
Be kind to your pets tomorrow  please..
Treat them calmly and see to their needs.
When the noise stops and the world is at peace..
Give them a hug and maybe some treats.

Our dogs have all been afraid of the 4th of July. I have heard about "Thunder shirts" now....if they had been available I would have bought one. The 4th of July is on record for the loss of more animals than any other time of the year. Be kind to all the pets tomorrow.

Balisha

The Queen of Wild Flowers

Queen Anne's Lace...or wild carrot? No matter what you call it...I think it is a beautiful wild flower. We picked bouquets of it along with  chicory..... for blue canning jar decorations for Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary. I used it in many craft projects. I always tried to transplant it into my garden, but was never successful. I had a neighbor, who was moving to Georgia years ago and she shared a love for it. She got to Georgia and found that it wasn't growing there. She wrote me a letter telling me how homesick she was and how she missed things like our wildflowers. I sent her several plants that I had dug up along the road...and was surprised when they grew for her. She had the greenest thumb... I planted roadside wildflower seeds along the border of the woods last year and so far...no Queen Anne's Lace.

There are many tales about how this flower got it's name. One was that it was named for Saint Anne, the mother of Mary, grandmother of Jesus. Another that it was growing in the royal gardens when Queen Anne became the wife of James the 1st. Queen Anne was an accomplished lace maker and she had a contest for her ladies in waiting. The maid who could make lace as beautiful as the flower would have the flower named after her. The Queen won the contest and forever after the flower has been known as Queen Anne's Lace. There is a tiny flower in the middle..... of red or purple. It is said that the queen pricked her finger, while making lace, and it dropped on the flower...thus giving the flower this little bit of red in the center.
I love all these old stories and I don't know what the real story is....we'll never really know.

The wild flower has graced our country roads....coming from England. It attracts the caterpillars of various butterflies, and also lady bugs, and many beneficial insects. It's taproot is where the carrot came from. The leaves, when rubbed, smell like parsley. It is a biennial and the 2nd year the plant can reach as high as six feet.

I've never had anything to do with farming...other than eating the food that is grown in the fields. I realize that farmers have to get rid of weeds....although I worry about all the chemicals and weed preventative things that they do to ensure a good yield. I do wish, however, that the roadsides could be a little bit more like the days when I was a barefoot girl with pigtails, picking bouquets along country roads.
Balisha

The Critters for June

It's time to show the critters for June. We will still be making them, but not joining the link party...because of people dropping out. I will finish this project though, because I have a little woodland tree just waiting for these cute little animals. Sunday, when the kids were here, I almost felt selfish when they were playing with them. I wanted to give them away...but then thought of all the work that I've put into them and how cute they will look on my tree...so selfishness won out. Here they are and a little poem to go with them this month. 

The Pig and the Cat by Balisha

Each month we get patterns for critters you know..
A fun project for me...I love sewing so.
A little felt and a stitch or two..
Gives me something that I can do.
This month a pig is high on the list..
A cat is the next... her tail in a twist.
A bear and an owl...a fox that's not mean..
A cardinal of red and a turtle of green.
My little tree waits for Christmas next year..
Critters upon it will bring us much cheer.

This and That for Tuesday and a Soup Recipe

I'll be posting my critter pictures later today. We aren't linking up to the link party anymore, because so many have dropped out. The patterns will still be up every month.

Last night was crazy here. The weather was horrible. We heard that bad weather was coming on TV and our satellite kept messing up. All of a sudden the wind just howled. As it continued, we heard pellets of ice on the overhead skylights. I was watching out the sliding glass doors and told Joe it looked like a hurricane out there. The lightening was horrific. Buckets of water were overflowing our gutters. There were flood warnings, severe storm warnings, and tornado watches. It all came to an end at bedtime. Only a distant rumbling and a few flashes of lightening were outside our window.
This morning....the sun is shining and we have a peaceful world here in Byron.

I got everything cleaned up yesterday.... from the company on Sunday...so there's not a lot to do today. I wondered what to have for dinner, and then thought about all the veggies left on the tray. I decided to brown some Italian sausage links after cutting them into rounds. Then in another deep soup pot I sauteed a lg chopped onion, the leftover carrots, leftover peppers, and leftover celery. I added the sausage to this mixture and then added a can of diced tomatoes, 32 oz chicken stock, can of Italian cherry tomatoes, can of garbanzo beans, kidney beans, small amt.leftover Bushes beans, small can of corn, oregano, pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley, small amt. seasoned salt, fennel, a Tbs of chopped garlic, and pinch of thyme. I really didn't need much salt. The seasonings I used made it pretty tasty without. Now I have two or three meals...using leftovers and a little bit of sausage.

I was just thinking...what did we do before diced tomatoes? I use so many of these in my recipes. I like to go to a store that specializes in Italian brands. The tomato products are so much better. Tins with San Marzano tomatoes are the best in my opinion. When we go to Valli market in Rockford, I stock up on  everything tomato.I use a lot of them during the year. I find that canned tomatoes are better than fresh....during most of the months. I know that there is nothing like a fresh tomato....just picked from your home garden, but these are a close second. The tomatoes that I find pretty good in our local market are the ones with Canada labels on them. During the off season...these are a pretty good substitute on a BLT.

This soup is bubbling on my stove now....I have enough to freeze some for another day. I was going to put some pasta shells in it, but we have had quite a bit of pasta this past week and I didn't feel we needed anymore. We love soup...any time of the year. This bowl with a piece of crusty bread and some iced tea will make a really nice meal.
Balisha

I just wanted to add that Audra came to visit and was here when the soup was served. She's 11 and lives next door. We asked if she would like to join us and she said that she didn't want soup, but she would like a fudgsicle instead. She sat there while we ate and Joe kept handing her peanut butter crackers. We had a nice visit with her. She doesn't visit as often... but she and her brother haven't forgotten us....We talked about all her goings on this summer....girl's nights, ball games, trips, Dixon for the 4th, camping, favorite foods, and of course school ahead in the fall. She's such a help...running like a deer to get things for us. We really look forward to her visits. She and Bryce have been coming here for several years. It's fun to watch them grow up right next door. B

The Company Came

 Yesterday was busy with Joe's family here for a sort of reunion. We hadn't seen these folks for quite a while. I think the last time we were together was in 2007. I won't name everyone but will show some of the pictures that I took.The above is one of all of the kids. They were full of energy all during the visit. It was hard to get them to all sit still for this picture. All different personalities and interests. They are cousins who got along quite nicely.....all looking for something to do next.

 I call these kids the middles. I disturbed their conversations for this picture.

 The above is a picture of all the adults. The oldsters and the middles.Our sofa has been the spot for many pictures like this one. It's big enough for a big group like this.

 While the rest of the family were in deep discussion...The kids grandma and I took them outside for some games. A rough and tumble group. Still full of energy. They had been cooped up in the car and needed to get rid of some energy.

 A couple of games of I Spy With My Little Eye and then the favorite...Simon Says. These kids love to play outside. No hand held games for them. Whew....
The picture below is of Joe and I at the Grotto.

 I didn't get a picture of the food, but it went well. Fried chicken, potato salad, pasta salad, tomato salad, relishes.....and olives for these Italians. I had some vanilla cookies frosted for the 4th and with the leftover frosting...I made frosted graham crackers...a big hit. Then a whole watermelon....we have just a little left for today.
The last thing was a visit to the Grotto. They had never seen it and the kids loved searching for their Grandpa's name, and other family members on the pavers

 Stories were told about people who were named on the bricks. Joe gave them a bit of history on how it all came about. Tommy touching his Dad's name with his mom looking on..

 The Grotto looked beautiful with the flowers blooming.

 The day was winding down and it was time to leave, but first a picture of Carissa touching Jesus.

It was a nice get together. We were so tired when it was all over. I didn't watch any TV, but went to bed to just rest. The night was a busy one with our weather radio waking me with a tornado watch for Ogle county. I just shut my eyes and went back to sleep and didn't get up until 8:30am.
Balisha