Granny Smiths' Christmas List

Yes, it is definitely early to be making lists like this.  But I confess to making a little mental list myself,  just in case anyone were to ask.  Be prepared.

I love this  L - O - N - G  list.  Tell me, boy or girl??

• leather bullwhip
• western six-shooter
• cowboy chaps and vest
• cowboy rifle
• dummy grenades
• remote controlled tank
• crossbow
• blow gun darts
• climbing claws (?)
• grappling hook
• marshmallow blaster
• 3 man slingshot
• walkie talkie communication watch
• x-scope gadget
• two shot pistols
• lion and cross sword set.

Boy.  Definitely.

Wordfull Wednesday - election topics

This week Cocoa's topic choices are all about the upcoming election.  

Boy oh boy.  How to narrow down my choices?  These are the options:  abortion, economy, immigration, education, marriage, and war.  I have a definite opinion on all of them - no waffling around on the issues at this house.  

So, instead of choosing one topic, I'm giving my 5 cents opinion on all of them.  Hang on - here we go.

Abortion:  Historically, the rule of law allows people freedom to exercise their rights and choices as long as those choices do not infringe on another person's rights.  Abortion does not meet this criteria since the rights of the child are not considered.  

Economy:  I wish the government would get out of the way and let the market adjust on it's own without everyone jumping with "good intentions" to help.

Immigration:  I'm all for LEGAL immigration.

Education:  Education is key to success.  But it isn't a right handed to you by the government.  If you want to learn, learn.  It's the individual person's responsibility.

Marriage:  The foundational unit of society is the traditional family.  It's embarrassing that logic in this world has deteriorated to the point that this is even a discussion.  The basic purpose of a family is to have children.  Marriage provides stability and commitment for those children.  I commend all the people in California working so hard to counter the rubbish being taught.  

War:  I hate war, and find myself leaning more libertarian on this issue than anything.  I am grateful America has helped other countries fight for freedom.  The world would be much different today if we had not stepped in to help during the past two world wars.  Having said that, I wonder sometimes what the national goals have been with war since the Korean war.  I am an idealist, I guess, and I hate the thought of innocent soldiers dying under the leadership of incompetent people.  I pray for the soldiers and hope they are safe.  

And that is that.

The Authoress

I am just wanting to give everyone fair notice:  Get your autograph of Golden Delicious now before she is too rich and famous to be bothered.  (Actually, I think she will always be very nice, even when she is a famous author).

She is almost done with her first novel.  Well, not quite.  She says it is going to be 300 pages, but then she says she always sets her goals a bit high.  I would tell you about the plot, but she won't let me since this stuff is a copyrighted secret.  All I will say is that I was delighted and amazed when I first read it and look for it to be in print some day.   I wonder is she'll use a pen name?  I'll keep you updated. 

So Sorry

This is an official apology for just being a bit dramatic in my affection for Mr. Bechtel in my last post.  I was momentarily overcome.  I apologize and will try to be very stoic in future posts.

Tag

Ok, Sariah tagged me, so here goes:

8 TV shows I like to watch... we don't have a TV.  How about old TV re-runs on video?

I Love Lucy

Leave it to Beaver

Andy Griffeth

Bewitched

Magnum P. I.

MacGyver

Sergeant Bilko

Beverly Hillbillies

Oh, yes, and anything on Food Network when I'm visiting family and friends.  For some reason it's relaxing to watch other people cooking.

8 Things That Happened Yesterday:

I went to book club.  It was so-so.

I actually made steak and potatoes for dinner that turned out.

I read more in "Keeping a Family Cow".  Riveting Reading, and I am not kidding.

I did lots of laundry.

I did homework with everyone.

I went to Wal-Mart.  Gag.

I made peach smoothies and popcorn for family movie.

I went to bed before 10pm.

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

Fall Break

Seeing Mr. Bechtel

Being with Mr. Bechtel

Giving Mr. Bechtel a hug

Giving Mr. Bechtel a kiss

Having Mr. Bechtel take me out on a date.

Seeing his nice eyes smiling at me.

Beating him soundly in a shooting match.  (please see comments on previous post).

8 Things on My Wish List:

Books

books

books

a surround for the fireplace

a clean barn

a rototilled garden

more quart jars

time to read all the books I'm wishing for.

Wordfull Wednesday - My Worst Fear

I've decided to write about guns.  I mean, why not?  I love them and the thought of them being outlawed is fearful to me.  My dad gave me my first gun when I was twelve - a little .22 with a nylon stock so it was light and easy to shoot.  It still is my favorite gun.  My brothers could borrow it, but only if they didn't shoot anything alive.  It was a peaceful gun only made for shooting cans and targets.  

One of my favorite dates is to go shooting with Mr. Bechtel.  He's a pretty good shot, but I never admit defeat - even if it might be justified!  In fact, I think it's time for another friendly competition.

The places around our home where you can safely go shooting are diminishing as more people move to the area.  But in the west it is a time honored tradition to go shooting as a family.  Many families, after a nice dinner on Thanksgiving, or on New Years day when there are lots of glass bottles, will head for their favorite shooting spot as a family and have a great time target shooting.  And no, all these people are not bitter and clinging to their guns and their religion, they're just good people who are independent and are carrying on a family and cultural tradition.

Mr. Bechtel's cousin came to visit last spring, and seeing how close our neighbor was, said, "Oh, man, that's terrible, you can't even shoot from your property can you?"  

These ranch guys get it. 

Japanese Grammar

On one of Mr. Bechtel's recent trips to Japan, he brought home several T shirts.  They are in English (sort of) and we have had a great time trying to decipher them.

"Banana's revolution of Unheard"

"It's widely grown in the tropics"

"Family head"

"Delicious and nourishing miracle fruit!"

"The leaf is a length oval"

.... Maybe Braeburn or Golden Delicious could diagram these sentences for extra credit in their English classes.

Pickled Garlic

Snake River Canoe Float

If you wonder why I love Idaho, these pictures speak volumes.

Braeburn and Grandpa went on a "higher adventure than the whole family can go on" canoe float down the south fork of the Snake River.  The water through here is quite fast with some interesting tidbits to keep you alert!  They put in below Palisades Dam and floated all the way down past the Swan Valley bridge to Byington by Heise. 

 

As you can tell from the pictures, it was a perfect day, and to top it off they took a little motorcycle ride afterwards to go get the truck.

Try not to be too jealous!

Oh, yes, and notice Braeburn's excellent canoeing form.  Good kneeling.  I wonder if he has any feeling in his legs?

How You Know It's Harvest Time

I know I haven't posted anything of note for weeks and weeks - It's because I'm surrounded by produce and I am trying to do things with it!

I'm tired of vegetables everywhere though and I've about done what I want to canning wise because I don't really care if we have a killing frost tonight.  I've covered everything half heartedly and we'll see if it survives.  For us to make it into October without everything being frozen solid is amazing.  This time last year we had a huge snow storm that toppled trees everywhere and gave us wood to build our chicken roosts.  I am pickling garlic... more on that later, making corn relish, and probably making apple sauce since neighbors just gave me at least 75 pounds of mackintosh apples.  

My canning thus far has not been without incident, and my last applesauce exploded downstairs because I obviously didn't do it right.  So, do you want to come to dinner??

Just kidding.  I'm trying to be very self sufficient and not poison my whole family either.  I'm not there yet.  Practice makes perfect, right?

Favorite Season

How is it that these Wordfull  Wednesday's can  come around so quickly?  I don't want to miss another week like last time, so I just have to quick add my vote for Autumn.  It is by far, my favorite season, and right now the weather is perfect in Idaho!