Getting Older

Getting older is like visiting an all-you-can-eat Buffet

What should be hot is cold

What should be firm is limp ...

And

The buns are bigger than anything else on the menu~!

How To Speak Kiwi

Ear roebucks - Exercise at gym

Adults Only Brownies

These brownies are not for those of you, who are *faint of heart* when it comes to cholesterol or calories!


2 sticks butter
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
6 eggs, separated
1 tbsp. Of your favorite coffee liqueur
1 c. sifted flour
2 c. nuts

Cream butter, blend in sugar and cocoa. Stir in egg yolks; when well blended, fold in by hand sifted flour, chopped nuts, egg whites which have been beaten to stiff peaks and liqueur. Pour into long pan (8 x 12 inch or similar). Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. After cooling, spread with coffee icing.

COFFEE ICING:

1 stick butter
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. cold coffee, (the stronger the better.)
1 tbsp. of your favorite coffee liqueur
1 box powdered sugar
Pinch of salt

Cream butter until whipped light. Alternate sugar, coffee and cocoa (cocoa depends on ones taste for cocoa, up to 1 cup can be used). Add liqueur and pinch of salt and blend thoroughly.

You may use more liqueur if you wish, if you do, adjust the amount of cold coffee or add more powdered sugar to get the desired consistency.

OK! If you must serve these brownies to the kids, substitute vanilla for the liqueur.

Thursday Chuckle

How to retire in style

About 2 years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a cruise ship. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room. I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters, busboys, etc., all seemed very familiar with this lady. I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told that she owned the line, but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back-to-back.

As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said, "I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises." She replied, "Yes, that's true." I stated, "I don't understand" and she replied, without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home."

So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $200 per day. I have checked on reservations on a Princess and I can get a long- term discount and senior discount price of $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for:

1. Gratuities which will only be $10 per day.

2. I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant, or I can have room service (which means I can have breakfast-in-bed every day of the week).
3. Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers, and shows every night.

4. They have free toothpaste and razors, and free soap and shampoo.

5. They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient. An extra $5 worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

6. I will get to meet new people every 7 or 14 days.

7. T.V. broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No Problem! They will fix everything and apologize for your inconvenience.

8. Clean sheets and towels every day, and you don't even have to ask for them.

9. If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip you are on Medicare; if you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, or name where you want to go?

Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look for me in a nursing home, just call shore to ship.

PS : And don't forget, when you die, they just dump you over the side -- at no charge.

I am making my reservation ahead of time!

Just a Thought

Ladies, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could save up our * hot flashes* and recall them, to use when we felt cold.
This idea came from my honey, after I complained of being very cold, after a day at the gun range.

A Chilhood Memory

CHOCOLATE

Isn’t there a rule which says? “ you must consume chocolate every day?” No, well there should be.
Why I love chocolate so much today, is probably a result of not getting enough chocolate during my childhood.
OK, I thought this was a good excuse, it is my story and I am sticking to it.

When I was a child, chocolate was kept for ‘special occasions’. Every Easter my two brothers and I would receive a large hollow Cadbury’s egg. The boys would have theirs eaten that very day, but mine would last a whole lot longer.

I always unwrapped the beautiful colored patterned foil very carefully and smoothed it out so I could keep it with my other kid treasures. I would then nibble a small hole in the top of the egg, just enough so I could reach one finger inside and break off small bite size pieces from around the hole. Over the next few days I would break off small pieces, enjoying each morsel, until the egg was finished.

When my brothers would ask me for some of my chocolate, I would always tell them, in true kid fashion, "you should not be so piggy, and make yours last longer!" Of course, this led to all kinds of name calling, which Mum had to come and stop before it led to blows.

Christmas was one other time the family enjoyed chocolate. This time it was a large box of ROSES chocolates, mmmmm soft cream centers, nuts, caramel, etc. and Mum held out the box so each of us could choose our favorite, foil wrapped chocolate, thereby stopping any squabbles between us kids.

Christmas was always when my family went on vacation. Here in USA, in some states, we freeze our buns off at Christmas, in New Zealand we enjoy the warm days of summer.

This one particular vacation we did not have the usual box of ROSES chocolates, instead Mum brought out this humungeous block of SOLID CHOCOLATE, it seemed it was about eight inches by eight inches by one inch thick, you can imagine the look on us three kids’ faces, I am sure our chins, covered in drool, hit our chests.

Mum then proceeded to break off nice large chunks of the chocolate for us, ooooooooh I still remember the feel of that chocolate melting in my mouth, and that much chocolate at one time, if this was heaven, I had arrived!

No wonder I am such a Chocoholic

Chalk Drawing

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For your enjoyment on this Monday, a sidewalk drawing from a talented artist.

I ain't telling!

Next week's carnival will be hosted by Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea.
It is suggested that the recipes include, tea, coffee or Chocolate.

This afternoon,I whipped a batch of the "goodies' I will submit for the carnival, and of course I had to eat a couple of the "goodies" ooooh! I think I just gained several pounds. I also made Mr.Completely eat two, so I would not feel so bad.

I did not have any dinner as the two ?????'s I ate filled me up, and supplied enough calories for two meals.

You are just going to have to wait until friday to see my recipe.

PRISON VS. WORK

Just in case you ever got the two mixed up. This should make things a bit clearer.

IN PRISON.. you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell.

AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle.


IN PRISON...you get three meals a day.


AT WORK...you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it.


IN PRISON...you get time off for good behavior.

AT WORK...you get more work for good behavior.


IN PRISON...the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.

AT WORK...you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.


IN PRISON...you can watch TV and play games.

AT WORK...you get fired for watching TV and playing games.


IN PRISON...you get your own toilet.

AT WORK...you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.


IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.

AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.


IN PRISON...the taxpayers pay all expenses with no work required.

AT WORK...you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.


IN PRISON...you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.

AT WORK...you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.


IN PRISON...you must deal with sadistic wardens.

AT WORK...they are called managers.

Have a Great Day at WORK

Hat Tip to my blogger friend, Grampa Pinhead

Carnival of the Recipes #74 has arrived.

The Common Room has done a wonderful job of putting together a whole bunch of recipes from breakfast to dessert.
To see all the recipes click Here

Where are my Gumboots?

Yikes! we have had 26 days of rain, I am considering finding plans for building an ark.

It is not so much the rain, as the lack of sunshine. It is sooooo gloooomy, I think buying some of those special UV lightbulbs and installing them around the house may brighten things up a little.

I am complaining about the rain, but, I would rather splash around in the puddles than slip and slide on ice and snow, been there and done that!

There are folks over on the mainland who are dealing with flooding and mudslides, so I had better quit my whinging (kiwi for whining) find my gummboots, (kiwi waterproof boots) and count my blessings I am not having to deal with floodwater and mud.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

You ain't wrong: That's right, yes.

Aztec Chili Salad

1 pound ground beef
1 package chili seasoning
½ cup water
15 ¼ oz. Can kidney beans, undrained
14 ½ oz. Can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained and cut up.
½ cup sour cream
3 tbsp. Mayo
1 fresh medium tomato, diced
¼ cup chopped cilantro
½ tsp Lawry’s seasoned pepper.
1 head lettuce
1 red bell pepper, sliced
¼ cup sliced green onions
1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese
¼ cup olives.

Brown ground beef, drain. Stir in chili seasoning, water, beans, and canned tomatoes; blend well. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

For dressing, in blender or food processor, blend sour cream, mayo, fresh tomato, cilantro, and seasoned pepper. Refrigerate until chilled.

On 6 individual plates, layer lettuce, chili meat, bell pepper, green onions, cheese, and olives. Drizzle with chilled dressing.

Sliced jicama wedges go well with this salad.
You can also use ground turkey or shredded chicken instead of the beef.

LOVE LIVES ON:

As a kid, I would see this gentleman riding his bicycle around town, and was always impressed how a blind person had the courage to be out on the road with all the cars going by.

He would ride alongside a sighted person with one arm reaching over and resting on his friend's shoulder for guidance.

Jack Shortt never let anything, or anyone, hold him back from what he wanted to do

Jack Shortt has named his birthday gift for his wife. She was a shorthand typist who learnt braille and he learnt to type so they could send love letters to each other.


It's the blind leaving to the blind. Jack Shortt's 90th birthday will be celebrated on Saturday, but the Palmerston North man is doing the giving.

Mr Shortt, who has been blind since he picked up an Army shell at Foxton Beach when he was 12, is giving his life savings of $45,000 to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind to fund more talking books.

Reading is one of his main "time fillers", says the Savage Crescent resident, along with ham radio, his garden and working with cane. He also played cornet in the Blind Institute Band of the 1930s and '40s and is an indoor bowls and rowing champion.

He's a fit 90 year old.

The story goes that several years ago he was told off by his neighbours for climbing the 15-metre tower in his backyard when the aerial cable for his short-wave radio set came undone.

He climbed down, waited for nightfall when no one was around and went back up again to fix it.

Mr Shortt has made the donation because he loves reading.

News from Down Under

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Now, how often do you find a piano on your local beach? This one was found on a beach not far from where I grew up.

PIANO MYSTERY:

The Piano
10 January 2006

It may not be in quite the same league as Jane Campion's movie masterpiece, but the discovery of a piano on Turakina Beach, about 20km south of Wanganui, has local residents wondering what's going on

Writer and actor Peter Hawes, pictured, who lives at the beach, said news of the find at the weekend spread quickly and it is already becoming an icon. The origin of the Walter Collinson upright is a mystery, but Mr Hawes says a piano of the same make was recently offered for sale on the internet trading site TradeMe by a Palmerston North resident.

Kitty Heaven

One day a cat dies of natural causes and goes to heaven. There he meets the Lord Himself. The Lord says to the cat, "You lived a good life and if there is any way I can make your stay in Heaven more comfortable, please let me know."

The cat thinks for a moment and says, "Lord, all my life I have lived with a poor family and had to sleep on a hard wood floor."

The Lord stops the cat and says, "Say no more" and a wonderful fluffy pillow appears.

A few days later 6 mice are killed in a tragic farming accident and went to Heaven. Again the Lord is there to great them with the same offer. The mice answered, "All our lives we have been chased. We have had to run from cats, dogs, and even women with brooms. We are tired of running. Do you think we could have roller skates so we don't have to run anymore?"

The Lord says, "Say no more," and fits each mouse with a beautiful pair of roller skates.

About a week later the Lord stops by to see the cat and finds him snoozing on the pillow. The Lord gently wakes the cat and asks him, "How are things going since you have been here?"

The cat stretches, yawns, and replies, "It is wonderful here. Better than I could have ever expected. And those Meals On Wheels you have been sending by are the best!!!"

Birdie House Bargain

---

I was going to tell you all about our weekend adventures but you can go read about it at Mr. Completely's.

On the way out of Washougal we stopped at a Bi-mart.

On my first sweep up the sale aisle, I noticed the Christmas bird houses , which were priced at $7.99 , down from $22, I thought it was a great price and maybe I would buy one after I had checked out all the other goodies.

On my second trip down the Christmas aisle, I mentioned to one of the sales associates, who was standing near by, that the price on the bird houses was really good. She told me ALL Christmas items were selling for 25 cents each, I could hardly believe I heard her correctly.

We came out of the store with all four bird houses which were left, a few other decorations, and four tins of Danish Butter Cookies for 25 cents, which Mr. Completely discovered, just as we were about to leave the store.

Oh! how I LOVE a bargain!

Mini Vacation from Blogging

I will not be doing any blogging until probably Monday.

Mr. Completely and I are heading down to the Portland area for both business and pleasure.

On Saturday we are meeting up with one of our blogger friends, Rivrdog, and will get in a little range time. We will also work over some of the final details and equipment for the pin shoot to be held on March 11th.

Sunday all day will be spent in Washougal, Washington, a small town just over the border from Oregon, installing a computer system and training the employees how to run it all, then back home late Sunday night.

I Got to Choose!

BackPack Picnic Set

---

Once a month, at our Fishin' Club's meeting, we raffle off several cool prizes. Mr.Completely always buys a bunch of tickets, I buy a few, depending how many dollars I have in my pocket.

Last night when we arrived I went to see what I could win, and there was a cool picnic set, I mentioned to Mr.C "I would like that"

When the tickets were drawn Mr.C was lucky to be the first winner and told me to choose what I would like to have, of course you know what I chose.

I was lucky to be the third winner, so I chose a very nice flashlight. Can't have too many flashlights around the house when you live in an area of frequent windstorms resulting in power failures.

The picnic set includes, 4 place settings featuring, knives, forks, spoons, plates, picnic wine glasses and fabric napkins. little wooden salt and pepper shakers, a cheese knife, wooden cutting board, multi-function tool, including a bottle opener, corkscrew and blade.

The backpack has two storage pockets, an insulated inner pouch, and a detachable insulated wine bottle holder.

I can hardly wait for warmer weather to get here so we can go on a picnic.

How To Speak Kiwi

Munner Stroney-Soup

RECIPE: Tomato Ham and Vodka Sauce

4 tbsp. butter
1 onion, chopped
1/4 lb. cooked ham, finely chopped (prosciutto)
1/2 c. vodka
1 c. canned crushed tomatoes
1 c. heavy cream or Half & Half
3 dashes Tabasco sauce

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the ham, tomatoes, and vodka and simmer until the sauce has been reduced by about one-fourth, 10 to 15 minutes. Slowly add the cream and Tabasco. Stir until well blended and hot. Serve over hot pasta (penne is recommended).

Tuesday Eye Teaser

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No blogging today, work calls, so I have left an eye teaser for your enjoyment.

2006 is here and there are Things To Do

2006 is here, all the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, so now, as
Mr. Completely says 'Back to the Grind' We already have many fun things planned for the upcoming year. Go on over to MrCompletely's site to see our schedule.

I know one thing I am going to do, and that is, get more exercise, and limit my chocolate treats! I am a true 'chocoholic'.
I have put my jar of chocolate treats up in a very high cupboard, and need a stepstool to get the jar. IT WORKS!! It is an effort to go find my stepstool to get chocolate, so I do not bother.

You would be proud of me. Last night I was craving chocolate, just one, ("just one? yeah! right, until you get into the jar") I hate the little voices in my head, anyhow, I really had to tell myself it was way too late at night for sugar, so forget it. I went to bed without chocolate. WHOO HOO ! victory.

Another thing I am going to do for my self, is take advantage of the free massage, I get every month, at the spa where I work.
I was there this morning for a massage, and OH! BOY do I ever have sore spots, in spots I never knew I had, I gotta' them worked out.

Now I have to get my behind away from the computer and do some real work!

CARNIVAL OF RECIPES IS UP

Caterwauling Says

TIME FOR CINDERELLA TO BE ON HER WAY TO THE BALL

In any event, I was thinking about the holiday season and realized that you just can’t have it without circles like wreaths, and also balls. (Get your minds out of the gutter, people!)

But think about it — we make tons of cookies and appetizers and side dishes, and everything starts as a lovely, one-inch circle before it bakes up all bubbly and chewy and tasty. We put glass balls on our Christmas trees. Even mistletoe comes in a ball (although the sprig is prettier, but you get the idea).

You can find all the mouth watering recipes over at Caterwauling

Do you like anything chocolate, as I do?
Christine, over at Coffee & tea has a great recipe for

Missouri Mud Balls

This week's Carnival of the Recipes will be all about balls, so for Chocolate Friday, I give you Missouri Mud Balls.

Click HERE to get the recipe.

Predictions for next year

Want something fun to do? For more details, go HERE to Mr. Completely's and make your predictions.

How To Speak Kiwi

Pissed aside - Chemical which kills insects

RECIPE: Coon (Procyon lotor) Balls

COON (Procyon lotor) BALLS

Make in exact proportion

3 c. Bisquick
1 lb. Jimmy Dean "hot sausage"
1 lb. Cheddar cheese (sharp)
3 tbsp. hot green chili sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder

Mix all ingredients in large bowl, let stand 30 mintues. Roll into balls. Bake at 350 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

I like the taste of sweet with Hot, so I sometimes have a sweet dipping sauce on the side.

Doggie Wisdom

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
-Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
-Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare.
And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.
-M. Acklam

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.
- Sigmund Freud

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
-Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.
-Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
-James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.
-Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
-Anne Tyler



If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you;
that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
- Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

Rain Again

Rain, rain, go away
Come back another day
Little Jenny wants to play.

Yes, it is raining again.
When I awoke early this morning, I was tempted to pull the blankets up over my head and stay in bed all day and listen to the rain on the roof. But if you want to play, you need to go to work once in a while to earn some of that green paper stuff to sustain your habit, like ammo for my gun, gardening stuff, and a good wine to drink, after I come back indoors, sighhhhhhh!!!

Gifts from Santa

The Christmas celebration is over, the gifts unwrapped the wonderful food eaten, and leftovers in the fridge to be enjoyed for the next couple of days.

Mr. Completely and I really get a kick out of watching Rocket enjoy his Christmas gifts.

This year Santa gave him some turkey, which you can see him enjoying, and a new 'string' toy, (a long piece of string with colorful ribbons tied to the end, and of course bunches of red and white tissue paper which he loves to shred and decorate the living room floor with.
















Santa Knew I had been very good this past year and rewarded me with a new gun.I suspect he knew I was wanting a backup gun if my Beretta U22 Neos failed.

I've always liked the looks of the Spud gun. The heavy barrel, the military angle grip, some absolutely beautiful grip panels, all add to the esthetics. The JA-RU reputation for fine quality firearms certainly doesn't hurt either.

As I do with any new firearm, I disassembled it fully, cleaned it, lubed it, and became familiar with it's inside workings. Something I noticed was that the slide movement wasn't very smooth. It wasn't really very rough, but it just wasn't that Spud Gun "greased glass" sort of smoothness. Granted, this was nearly a new Spud Gun, so that certainly was a contributing factor.

While I had it apart, I polished the sliding surfaces on the slide and frame, and it was noticeably smoother. Still not as smooth as I would have liked, but a lot better than it was. Putting two or three thousand rounds through it probably would have improved it even more. It was definitely decent, just not what I would expect from something from JA-RU.

Weapon information stolen and edited, from Mr. Completely

The Day After

The Yuk face shows how I feel this morning!

We had a very nice Christmas dinner yesterday, prime rib, lobster, salad, sweet potatoes, creamy garlic mashed potatoes,vegetables, wonderful desserts and the best tasting wine.

Yep!! I over did everything, Where are the Tums?

I now now for sure I am getting OLD and need to be more careful what, and how much I can consume!
Ohhhh! and I have to work today. It is going to be a looooong day.

TIS THE SEASON

No blogging tomorrow. I am going to be doing some baking in the morning to take with us when we go to share Christmas dinner with our friends, later on in the day.

We are going to be having Good Food, Good drinks (hic!) Good company and Good Fun.

I wish all my readers, Family, Friends, and people I do not know personally, A Very Merry Christmas, and Wonderful New Year.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Chrissy is almost here, I hope I get lots of lollies and a stubby.

Chrissy: Christmas

Lollies: Candy

Stubby: a small bottle of beer

Politically Correct Version of 'The Night Before Christmas!'

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves"
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves
And labor conditions at the north pole Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society
And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E P A
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops
Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened
His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened"

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows
Rudolf was suing over unauthorised use of his nose
And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation
Demanding millions in over-due compensation

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life
Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz
Demanding from now on her title was Ms

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her
Nothing that might be construed to pollute
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot
Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise
Nothing for just girls. Or just for boys
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific

No candy or sweets ... they were bad for the tooth
Nothing that seemed to embellish the truth
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden
For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was ecological

No baseball, no football ... someone could get hurt;
Besides; playing sports exposed kids to dirt
Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away

So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next
He tried to be merry, tried to be gay
But you've got to be careful with that word today
His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right
A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue
Everyone, everywhere ... even you
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth ...
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth"

Weather Forecast

At last, the nose biting cold snap has passed.
No longer are we waking to frost coated trees and slick roads. This morning the temperature is up in the low 40's it is almost tee shirt weather, well OK, sweater weather.

Weather Forecast

To tell the weather, go to your back door and look for the dog. If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it's probably raining.

But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it is probably raining really hard.

If the dog's fur looks like it's been rubbed the wrong way, it's probably windy.

If the dog has snow on his back, it's probably snowing.

Of course, to be able to tell the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather.

Sincerely,
The Cat

CARNIVAL OF RECIPES IS UP

70th Edition of Carnival of Recipes is being hosted by Caltechgirl over at
Not Exactly Rocket Science.
There is a great selection of wonderful recipes for the holiday season.
Click HERE to check them out.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Scull: to drink beer rapidly

A KIWI CHRISTMAS TREAT

Afghans

These biscuits (cookies) were baked every Christmas by my mother, then by myself when I had a family. As for them being a ‘small treat,’ they are kinda’ like potato chips, who can stop at just one?
As most American recipes use cup measures, I suggest, if you do not have a scale, buy one of those small scales used to measure diet size portions. I found one at a dollar store.


Afghan Biscuits
Deceptively decadent chocolate biscuit ideal with coffee, after dinner or as a small treat. They have a similar texture to shortbread only better.

BISCUITS
7 ounces butter
3 ounces sugar
6 ounces flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup corn flakes, slightly crushed after measuring.
1/2 cup desiccated coconut (needs to be unsweetened finely shredded) The brand I found was next to the sweetened flaked coconut, or sometimes found in the organic section.

ICING
1 1/2 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons hot water
Stir all together until smooth.

walnuts (to decorate) I don’t like walnuts so I leave them off

Cream softened butter and sugar, add sifted flour and cocoa. Stir in coconut and crushed corn flakes.
Put small spoonfuls on a greased oven tray and bake about 15 minutes at 350F
Leave them on the oven tray a few minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool.
When cold, ice and place piece of walnut on top of each biscuit.

After I ice mine, I dunk the icing side of each biscuit in some of the coconut

Thursday chuckle

POLITICAL COWS

An American Democrat

You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
You vote people into office that put a tax on your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax.
The people you voted for then take tax money, buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous and Barbara Streisand sings for you.

An American Republican

You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

Socialist

You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

Communist

You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.

Capitalism, American style

You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

Democracy, American style

You have two cows.
The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your' government.

Bureaucracy, American style

You have two cows.
The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain.

Democracy, American style

The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it.
After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures.
The press dubs the affair "Cowgate"

Feudalism

You have two cows.
Your lord takes some of the milk

Pure socialism

You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows.
You have to take care of all the cows.
The government gives you as much milk as you need

Bureaucratic socialism

You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows.
They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers.
You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers.
The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.

Fascism

You have two cows.
The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.

Pure communism

You have two cows.
Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

Russian communism

You have two cows.
You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk

Dictatorship

You have two cows.
The government takes both and shoots you

Singaporean democracy

You have two cows.
The government fines you for keeping two unlicensed farm animals in an apartment

Militarianism

You have two cows.
The government takes both and drafts you

Pure democracy

You have two cows.
Your neighbors decide who gets the milk

Repreresentative democracy

You have two cows.
Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk

British democracy

You have two cows.
You feed them sheeps' brains and they go mad.
The government doesn't do anything.

Bureaucracy

You have two cows.
At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them.
Then it pays you not to milk them.
After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain.
Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows

Anarchy

You have two cows.
Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to kill you and take the cows

Capitalism

You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull

Hong Kong capitalism

You have two cows.
You sell three of them to your publicly - listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother - in - law at the bank, then execute a debt / equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows.
The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the rights to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company.
The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because the fung shui is bad.

Environmentalism

You have two cows.
The government bans you from milking or killing them

Feminism

You have two cows.
They get married and adopt a veal calf

Tolatarianism

You have two cows.
The government takes them and denies they ever existed.
Milk is banned

Political Correctness

You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the phallo - centric, war - mongering, intolerant past) two differently - aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non - specified gender.

Counter Culture

Wow, dude, there's like... these two cows, man.
You got to have some of this milk.

Surrealism

you have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

Our Christmas Tree

It is a shame that it is so difficult to get a really good picture of a christmas tree when it is all lit. This tree looks fantastic and the picture does not do it justice.

This year I decided to replace all the lights and have bought both white and blue lights. The blue lights are more towards the trunk of the tree, the white ones on the outer limbs.

Over the years I have collected many, many ornaments. Some from my visits to other states, some from other countries.

For a couple of years I decorated the tree in blues and burgundy, but then decided that I missed seeing all the wonderful decorations I have collected, so now our tree is loaded with as many decorations as I can fit on it. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention, the tree is sitting in one of those rotating tree stands, so we can enjoy all the decorations as the tree slowly rotates.

Mr Completely and Rocket (our kitty) have helped me by staying out of the way while I decorated our tree.

Check out HERE what MR.C has to say.

Frosty Morning

Oh what a beautiful morning!

I stumbled out to the kitchen this morning to make the usual 'wake up' pot of coffee, glanced out the kitchen window, and was greeted by a beautiful pink tinted sky, frost covered pasture and frost on the roof of the neighbor's house.

Looks like we will have a cold, but clear day.

Now to go drink some more of my coffee before I have to leave for work.

TEST: Are you ready to have kids yet?

MESS TEST
Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.
TOY TEST
Obtain a 55 gallon box of Legos (or you may substitute roofing tacks). Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream because this would wake a child at night.
GROCERY STORE TEST
Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.
DRESSING TEST
Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all the arms stay inside.
FEEDING TEST
Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal into the mouth of the jug, while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.
NIGHT TEST
Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8-12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 3:00p.m. begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00p.m. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00p.m.Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00a.m. Set alarm for 5:00a.m. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.
INGENUITY TEST
Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and pot of paint, turn it into an alligator. Now take a toilet paper tube and turn it into an attractive Christmas candle. Use only scotch tape and a piece of foil. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty box of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.
AUTOMOBILE TEST
Forget the BMW and buy a station wagon. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there. Get a dime. Stick it into the cassette player. Take a family size package of chocolate chip cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car. There, perfect.
PHYSICAL TEST (Women)
Obtain a large bean bag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it here for 9 months. Now remove 10 of the beans. And try not to notice your closet full of clothes. You won't be wearing them for a while.
PHYSICAL TEST (Men)
Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

FINAL ASSIGNMENT
Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run wild. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

CARNIVAL OF RECIPES IS UP

Trouble in Shangrila, over at Dubious Wonder is hosting the carnival of recipes this week.
There is everything from brisket to chocolate bourbon balls.

Mouth watering recipes for you to try, CLICK HERE to see the recipes.

RECIPE: Italian Sausage Soup

1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage, with casings removed.
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped.
1 (1pound) can chopped tomatoes with juice.
3 cups chicken broth.
1tsp. dried basil.
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni.
1/4 tsp. salt

Cook the sausage, in a 2 quart saucepan over moderate heat, using a spoon to break the meat into small pieces.
Add the onion and continue cooking, uncovered for 5 minutes, or until onion is soft.
Add the tomatoes, chicken broth and basil, and bring to a boil.
Stir in the macaroni and simmer, covered for 10 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender.
Add salt and serve.

I like to top each serving with about 2tbs. grated parmesan cheese, and have a nice crusty bread which has been sliced and a little cheese sprinkled over, then broiled until the cheese melts.

Erin's Party

Last night, the women I work with got together to have a special evening for Erin.

This beautiful young woman is leaving the spa to focus her energy on her pregnancy and upcoming motherhood.

We had a wonderful potluck dinner before a ritual was performed celebrating the transition from 'maiden to mother.'

Each of us brought three beads to the party, each bead signifying something special. We all took turns telling Erin what each bead meant and placed them in a bowl which was passed from woman to woman, until all the beads were in the bowl.The beads are to be strung together to form a necklace for Erin.

All of us had a very special time and all look forward to the arrival of Erin and Greg's new child in April.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

SNARKY: mixture of sarcastic and nasty

WhooHoo!!

Another Milestone reached. It is so gratifying to know there are folks actually reading my blog. All I need now are more comments (nice ones of course) A huge Thank You to all my readers.

Christmas shopping

Yesterday it occured to me that Christmas was sneakin' up way too fast and I had better go get some shopping done.

Today was the perfect day to go fight the crowds!
When I looked out the window first thing this morning, I thought, " good, no snow, no frost, clear but cold day, no excuses , get moving" so I got moving.

I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised, there weren't all that many people in the stores yet, so I spent a great day wandering around all my favorite stores, buying gifts, and not once wanting to scowl at rude pushy shoppers.

Around 1pm I was hungry, so treated myself to lunch at the chinese buffet. I love this place, so many choices, I came out of the restaurant I think about 5lbs heavier. Mr.Completely tells me that the buffet style restaurants always make money off of me as I really do not eat all that much, Oh well! I eat what I want, and I am happy when I get done.

THE RESULTS ARE IN

Pin top shooting is done for the year and the scores have been tallied.

Rim Fire Optical Sight

1st. -- Mr. Completely (barely)
2nd. -- "Evil Al"
3rd. -- KeeWee (WOO HOO!!)

This is a very nice surprise and quite an honor. I shot against many very good shooters, I really do not know how I managed to be 3rd, must be the 'hare and tortoise' theory, I just plodded along!
Mr. Completely will tell you it was the coaching and gun smithing, there is some truth to his words.

Christmas Cookies

Mr. Completely has a recipe for Christmas cookies you just have to go read.
Warning! do not have a mouth full of coffee when you read the recipe.
Go Here to read.

Gonna Be A Bear

In this life I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d Like to come back as a bear.When you’re a Bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing But sleep for six months. I could deal with That.

Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat Yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you are a girl bear, you birth your Children (who are the size of walnuts) while You’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, Cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with That.

If you’re a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you are a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to Wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will Have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear.

Christmas Party

The Fishin' Club folk visiting before getting down to the serious job of eating all the great pot luck food.

Setting out all the Goodies

Just a few of the delicious desserts we had to choose from.

DK was so 'tickled' to win this Shimano rod and reel.

Fishin' Club Party

Tonight The fishin' Club is having it's Christmas pot luck party.

This club is a little different from some other clubs, in that, we have a board of directors who meet once a month and take care of all club business, so on club meeting nights we get right to the fun stuff.

At the meetings we have fishing reports, a guest speaker, and of course a raffle. all the raffle tickets which are not winners go into a pot, and at our Christmas pot luck there are three tickets drawn for great prizes.We have two smokers and a very nice fishing rod to give away.

THEN, there is the pot luck food, Oh! boy! Oh! Boy! we sure do eat well. The variety of dishes is fantastic, you name it, and it is usually there on one of the tables.

All going well, and I remember to take some photos in between visiting the food tables, filling my plate and eating, I may have some pictures to show you tomorrow.

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Wet blanket: Someone who spoils the fun of others; someone who doesn't get into the swing of things, particularly at a social function.