Just Gabbing

I see Carla was up bright and early this a.m...blogging away. J-L, If you don't have anything to write, I must tell you that dashes----and etc. aren't very exciting. I'm sure if you dug deep enough you'd find something of interest to post. I called over the weekend to see if my comments were posted to your blogs. For some reason I couldn't tell. I asked my trusty machine to post, but it didn't come up as a posting, sooooooo what's to know. Someone out there in blog land will have to let me know what or what not to do. Help on that.

I'm like J-L. Nothing to write. It's raining here. Time is 4:30a.m. I'm hoping the rain-sleet doesn't freeze. Nothing like black ice to scare a body. The cars stayed out front last night as we were warned that this was a possibility. So far it's just wet and cold. A high of 39 is expected today.

I hate to talk about the weather. When I used to write multiple letters to folks, that seemed to be a topic of conversation. Not a very exciting subject.

We have just had an eventful week...inauguration...and we had an election in Nashville. I am happy to report that my side won. We were voting on whether all government papers should only be printed in English. We voted no to this. We were in the mayor's and governor's camps on this issue. Since English is the official language of the state (by law) we agreed that it wasn't necessary to enact legislation to make Nashville English only. I was rather ticked about this issue as it cost $350,000 to have a special election and we could have used that money for other things.

Both metro (where we live) and the state (also where we live) is in dire economic straits. The governor is talking about laying off 2000 state workers. The mayor is working on the metro budget for 09-10 and things are not looking good. They are laying all the deficit on the fact that sales taxes revenues are down. Since we don't have an income tax in Tn....times are tough.

As far as the recession goes, we aren't affected at all by it. But I know that many people are hurting. Of course, we have always been frugal with our money and haven't spent beyond our means. I am having a hard time feeling sorry for folks who bought "over their heads." What did they think was going to happen with an adjustable rate mortgage. They never go down...only UP. But chalk it up to greedy lenders and uneducated consumers. Their mothers never taught them that you can only spend a nickle one way.

Is this a vent? Perhaps.

And that's it for today. Ta. ta.

the P's vacation is almost over

Hello, out there. The Paters have been visiting all week. In the words of the immortal Maura "taking care of a baby is lots of work." Isabel is a beauty, but she's a handful. Lots of energy and a very tough cookie. Almost walking. She goes one or two or three steps, then falls on her butt and crawls away. She's a very fast crawler. We are enjoying her and I think she's having fun with us.

Karen got to see a few old friends while here. She saw Tommie Ann and family from Birmingham. They visited on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, she and family traveled to Centerville to see Alice Ann and Amy and their families. Today she had lunch with her old piano teacher. We were to visit Alisha, but she's got a bug and is contagious...so she is saved until her next visit. Now the Ps are washing clothes so that they don't have to do that when they go home. Last night, Glenn Brown came for supper. We all had a nice visit.

We will be glad to get back on our own schedule. Karen and Bela are going out to dinner this evening (a gift from Joan). They were to go to a movie, but there isn't anything they want to see so it's just dinner.

Anyway, back to our schedule and theirs. They are hoping they can get Isabel back on her own sleep schedule. K says she doesn't believe Isabel has ever played so hard. Maura was a bit disappointed to discover that Isabel doesn't lay on a blanket and let anyone play with her. (that was good for a six-month old, but not for a year old almost walking girl.) Dad thought Maura was jealous, but she wasn't a bit jealous, she really wanted that baby all to herself and that wasn't to be.

News from Maryland. J has to have another surgery. It is scheduled for next Wednesday. It's always something.

Till next time. Ta ta.

Recipes

OK. Here it is...the definitive Steinmetz family recipe for turkey stuffing. I guess you can use it for anything else you want to stuff too, but for a Christmas turkey....here goes.
For a 12 lb turkey (or larger)....1 1/2 loves of white bread cubed...4 cups of celery cut into small pieces...2 med. onions (diced)...1 lb loose sausage..( I use mild, but some folks like the hot sausage. To save time on the day of turkey I usually cook the celery and onions together with some margarine the day before. On turkey day I brown the sausage and mix it and the celery/onion mixture with the bread. Then add a little canned broth (chicken or vegetable) to moisten. (sometimes I add a little milk if I have no broth.) Salt and pepper sparingly.

Clean turkey...don't forget to take the bag of giblets out of the neck. Then fill bird cavity and also the neck with stuffing. I dust a cooking bag with flour and put the stuffed bird in the bag. If turkey doesn't have a pop-up thermometer I stick a cooking thermometer between thigh and breast and bake at 350 for 15 minutes per lb. Usually I have stuffing mixture left and I put it in a greased casserole and bake it after the bird is done.

This recipe is rather a loose one. You may have to make a few adjustments to your taste adding more onions or celery or even more sausage if you'd like, but I have made this for many years and it's always a hi-light of the holiday dinner. Good luck..Bonapetite.

Thanks to Carla Steinmetz for on-line coaching. Love to family and friends in Florida

Brrr...Nashville is in for a cold snap

Well, I guess my first writing was just a practice one as I didn't post it properly. So, I'll try again.
Today we had a high of 40 (the weather folks say) but it didn't seem that warm when I was running in and out of my car doing my errands this a.m. Tomorrow we are to get cold from the northwest and don't expect anything higher than low single digits. I believe my blood is thin since I've lived here all this time and I hate the cold.

Today was an art day and I worked on Anton's portrait. It is coming along nicely. Chris' is next. I will search the photos for a pic of him not squinting. He does have a habit of doing that when a camera comes out. Speaking of cameras, yesterday a fellow from the Frist came and talked about the George Eastman photo exhibit. He also showed us all how to make a box camera. Very interesting. Next week we are to use that little cardboard thing to take a picture. We will use polaroid film. He said polaroid film is no longer being manufactured as digital cameras and computers have made the polaroid camera obsolete.

While I was having all this fun dad was "cleaning house." What a good man. I didn't think the house was dirty. He said we were getting company and had to look good. I said Karen and family couldn't pick apart anyone's housekeeping skills as I knew that wasn't high on their list of "to do" things. I was told that the bathrooms and kitchen were my job. I'll do them tomorrow.

The Paters are coming Friday. Isabel was supposed to get his 1 year shots today. Karen said she was going to ask the doctor for a prescription for her meds as the baby is only 3or4 days between ear infections and they will be here for a week. Isabel is scheduled for tubes next month.

Today when I came home I finished up a felted purse. I didn't think I wanted to go into the felted bag business, but a friend has made several and I just wanted to see if I could make one. It turned out rather nicely. Al said I wouldn't ever have to buy another purse as when the need arose, I could just whip one up. There was a little more to it than that.

My other project, outside of the usual baby blankets and cancer hats was a button necklace. Since I have all those buttons, I have always wanted to make one. I finally got a pattern that I could understand. Pattern makers don't always make the directions simple enough for us craftspeople. The necklace used 100 buttons. I made my with white buttons, some antique and some not antique. Al was totally unimpressed with my creation...asking me where and when I intended to wear such a thing. (the man has no imagination)

These projects remind me that "Idle hands are the devil's workshop." and also something my mother used to say often. If a day passes and you haven't anything to show for it..you have wasted the day. She surely didn't waste many days. I hope the same can be said for me when I shuffle off this mortal coil.

Guess that's it for now. Till next time.

I'm losing my mind?

Maybe I'm losing my mind. Yesterday was the first day of my teaching ART class. I love it and my students (I think) love it too. As we were leaving one of my new students asked if I was getting paid for teaching. I replied that Yes, I did get paid...not enough to put me into another tax bracket, but I did get paid. She said, "Well, you should, because you're good." Another fan.
In the afternoon I had signed up to attend another class...would you believe I thought it was today and missed it. Like I said...I think I'm losing my mind.

The Saint said I would have to start keeping a calendar so I didn't forget important stuff. I have always prided myself on not having to keep a calendar. I agreed with the late Pearl Bailey who said that she never wrote anything down as if it was important she wouldn't forget it. I guess I can't say that now.

Today was art day with other painters. I finally finished J-L's portrait. It's not bad, if I do say so myself. Anton's portrait is underway. At the present time his portrait looks a lot like Chris. I've a lot of work to do on his.

Speaking of pictures...Maura was checking out the gallery of family photos on the refrigerator and she saw the Florida Steinmetz Christmas picture. She said, there's all the Florida people. They all look good. Aunt Carla even has make-up on. The Quinn photo is also posted and Ed says it's not too bad except for the two fat people. I think all my relatives are beautiful.

Today at lunch I met a woman who worked in an airplane plane during WW2. She had lots of stories and was very interesting. Then she veered off the subject and said many things I didn't agree with re: gays, the mayor, the upcoming referendum...etc. I was a polite younger woman and didn't argue with her. I liked her better when she was telling about working in the factory during the Big WAR.

I already wrote once today, but when it came time to post my blog...I still think the only people in the world who would think anything I have to say are family. This fun. I hope I can get this posted so that faithful readers can catch up on my "Ramblings."

Ta--ta.

New Year's Day '09

Today is Isabel's birthday. She's one year old already and the most recent report from her mom is that she's got to have tubes put in her ears. Too many ear infections in too short a time.

I never make resolutions as they usually go by the wayside about the middle of the second week. So, I'm going to think about the "Just for Today" column that Abby writes. Just for today, I'm going to eat sensibly. Just for today, I'll not gossip. Just for today, I'll think good thoughts. Just for today I'll try to be a good neighbor. Just for today, I'll read to learn something. Just for today, I'll say my prayers. Just for today....well, you get the picture. We can do anything for just one day. I think that's what the AA folks say. Just for today, I'll not drink.

Bill and Carla are posting interesting blogs. I've commented on a couple of Bill's and also Jean-Luc's, but for some reason I'm not able to comment on Carla's. To figure out what I'm doing wrong in re to this is a job for another day. I did enjoy the Epcot trip. I'm sure Carla's feet were killing her when she got home.

This is the day the Christmas decorations are usually put to bed for another year, but as the Paters are coming on the 18th, we have been asked to leave them up till after their visit. We are anxious to see everyone. One thing when people come after Christmas, you don't have to be in too big a hurry to get their gifts before the big day.

Joan and I took Maura to see Devereaux. There were a few dark places in that movie. I think maybe little kids might be frightened. Even Maura had to sit on her mom's lap a couple of times. There were a lot of kids and parents there that afternoon. Maura with her wide network of friends was going to see "Bedtime Story" yesterday. The Bennetts went to see the "Benjamin" story. They gave it two thumbs up. I guess this is a movie review column.

That's all, folks. Ta, Ta.