Have A Good Sleep

Ponderance tonight for those who like them. If you don't like them then skip it, lol.

Theron, Tater as we call him, favors my Dad, who he calls Papaw Owl. But, his heart and some mannerisms are that of my Granny Bates, "Tudy", my maternal grandmother. His heart is too tender, and his memory is too sharp for odds and ends facts most folks dismiss about a person they meet. His recall for birthdays, ages, where a person said they were born, a shoe size, a memory a person shared are very detailed in his memory. But he is again like his Papaw Owl and likely won't recall the person's name and will forget the three items on a list he needed to get at the grocery. What a mix he is of my maternal and paternal family.  

I have noted often he has Tudy's crooked-head pose, lol. There is thinking going on when the head tilts. Serious thinking that makes me ask him: "What are you thinking Mr. Einstein?" He giggles and sometimes he will share, but not often. He has been learning that his thinking outside the box isn't how most kids his age think so he has learned to mentally ponder and not share it out loud. I am glad that he has a heart for drawing and writing, and expresses his ideas in a creative outlet that has made for some very interesting drawing and comic strips strewn across my refrigerator.

When he goes to bed he says: "Have a good sleep." Very matter of fact. No lament of I hope or I wish about it. He bids a person to have a good sleep. He has grown up with me saying as I grew up with it, too: "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite." I asked him why he says to have a good sleep, who told him to say it, or where he heard it. He said he made it up he guesses, and he likes it better. Thinking about it, I do agree, it's better to bid having a good sleep. It is when our body does it's most intense work at restoring us to prepare for the next day ahead. Simply to sleep, with no tossing, not worried about bed bugs, no mulling things over during the night... just simply sleep.

So... have a good sleep, Tater. Have a good sleep.

Our boer doe goat out for a snack on grass and clover...

Video on our YouTube channel...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxy7z2NjGwE

Toby's first doe for his first year in showing 4-H livestock in 2013.

Rosey when we brought her home...

How a 4-H kid spends his mornings... in his PJs walking his goat for her morning exercise.  No need in getting too many loads of clothes dirty, lol. 

They had fun at the 4-H "Dress Your Goat" contest.  Nothing beats trying to get a goat to wear swim trunks, lol.

Now he's in his third year of preparing for 4-H show 2015, and his little brother Theron is preparing for his first year.  Three adult goats, 5 goat kids, and two more goat kids to pick up in a week.  Whew.

Dad "talking to you people on the computer" on Christmas Eve 2014

     Dad took time on Christmas Eve, 2014, to set at the kitchen table with my sister Teresa and I to capture a few memories on film.

There were eight clips captured.
     Here is a link to clip one...

Christmas Eve interview with Lester recalling Christmas years ago

     He shared Christmas at home as a kid in southeastern Kentucky at the foothills of Pine Mountain along Linefork Creek between Gordon and Kingdom Come, Letcher County, Kentucky.

     He recalled his brother Clarence making a Dancing Dan for him one year.  He recalled his oldest sister Ruth bringing home a turkey to cook for dinner.  Then he recalled hiding Easter eggs and his turn hiding eggs. Caney Creek College would come to the rural areas and bring a little present, and he recalled getting a comb from Japan just after World War 2.

     He recalls Christmas season when he moved to Indiana and would go back to Kentucky with kids and presents in tow.  Christmas for my Mom and her parents -Andy & Tudy.

     He has really enjoyed "vlogging" and has many ideas of what he wants to capture and share with the world, but mainly for the youngest generations so they can get to know him, too.



You can see the other vlogs as well if you click on the Short Acres channel when you watch Clip 1.

Bacon seed 2015

It's that time again... 4-H animal project raising is in full force.

This is our 9 year old son's first year in 4-H and he's just a smidgen excited to be showing pigs.

This is our 11 year old son's third year in 4-H and showing swine.  He's excited, but being a cool eleven year old is harder.

Folks often wonder if we use a stock trailer we have to bring home the bacon seed.  Nope, a dog crate does just fine.  A large dog crate can easily hold two young pigs. It's better because it keeps them more confined and calmer while traveling a short distance home, or sometimes an hour.

When the weather warms and snow or even frost are gone they will be able to go into an outdoor area and root to their hearts content.  The feed cost is high, the clean up is hard work, and the three times a day minimum to check on them for food and water and interact with them is time consuming.

But, in July when they are loaded up to take to the county fair... the hard work and lessons learned result in a fun time walking in the show ring for three minutes of fun.  The life lessons gained will last a lifetime.

One will go to processing for our freezer, one for their sister's freezer, and two to a livestock auction in order to buy a pig for next year's fair.

Bacon seed.  Mmm-good.

Liking the new Crock Pot

I had my eye on this when I saw it a few months ago at Menards.  Good job filling my wish-list, Kainan.

 I took pictures and posted to a shopping tips album I keep on my personal Facebook page early November 2014.

Folks gave me feedback they had seen it at Wal-Mart and other big box stores as well.  I added it to my wish-list as I do like slow cookers.

I have a few crocks in various capacity sizes.  Maybe a few too many to some folks, lol.  But, they are a blessing when cooking for a crowd.  And a big blessing when I want a home cooked meal but not be stuck in a kitchen for hours preparing it.

This one is VERY cool in that the casserole crock part can be used in the oven (not the lid), kept warm in the crock... or after cooking in the crock then browning the top in the oven.





Something I did notice was that cheaper plastic, not as long term durable, seemed to be used on the handles and latches.  It wasn't just Crock-Pot brand either.  I noted that various brands of small kitchen appliances seemed to be made cheaper than older products stored in cupboarda at home.  

I cooked a basic cheese-rice-broccoli casserole Christmas weekend.  It did great.  I started it in the crock.  Then, after I had a roast in the oven, I took out the casserole crock and popped it in the oven to finish the rice dish.  It browned up just right :)   I then took it out and kept it in the crock warmer until I was ready to put away leftovers after supper.  The best part, it cleaned up without soaking or hard scrubbing -even where the cheese had browned on the white crock edges in the oven.  

Today, I put in a 2 pound thin beef roast I had gotten on sale at Kroger, with four softball sized potatoes from our garden food storage, one medium onion from our garden food storage, half a bag of baby carrots, and a few good shakes of Lowery's season salt.  I put in enough water to come up to the first edge of the crock.  I wanted to have a lot of liquid for leftover veggie soup base on Saturday.  

Yum... so very yum!




You can look at more information on it here:
Crock-Pot Casserole Crock, Red Crock-Pot http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MN0EXQM/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_irCPub07ZFRNN

or here:
http://www.crock-pot.com/specialty/new%21-casserole-crock%E2%84%A2-slow-cooker/SCCPCCM350-CR.html#start=4

Life, live it in the present, not the past or future.

-Thursa.

Costco browsing
... for new selections with the crowds doing their New Year's Eve "eve" shopping 2014...


     I did it,
     I made it through the store and didn't buy anything.  The Costco on Indy's north side is the closest option for me.  I joined my daughter who had a shopping list, meeting up after work.  I was also get a couple new Thirty-One surprises from her that had just come in the mail.  (So excited about getting the new wallet that's on sale this month when I place my own order.)

 





     We took the time to browse the aisles and see what was leftover from December sales. We also peered at what was stored on high shelves to be brought down for January and February deals.  Her goal was to only spend $100... and considering sales tax 7% in Indiana... YIPPEE for her!  She did great!

     There she is showing her good deal at the register. Then, being photo-bombed by her Thirty-One new Jewell purse, "Paris" in City Charcoal Snake and the wallet that I WANT, "All About The Benjamins" in Gatsby's Green Pebble.

      HOW did she do it?
She had a list, awareness what was on sale at Costco for the next few weeks, and had thought a bit about what the two of them at her home would eat up before expiration date would be a concern.  I reminded her that she does have a vacuum sealer to help out with supersize snack bags for movie night freshness.

     There's Thirty-One in use again, a Fresh Market Thermal for cold and frozen goods... a Medium Utility Tote for pantry items.

     The Greek yogurt cups were removed from the box to fit in the Market tote a lot better with all of the other goods.  We were debating where to ditch the empty box, I um mean... put in a proper place.  I then realized hey, it would be a great way to keep the double loaf of bread from getting crushed in transport.  Boom... it fit just right!  One of my biggest pet-peeves is smashed up sandwich bread, lol.

     While she packed up, I was mesmerized watching fresh pizzas being made for special to-go orders.  See the action below... No, there were no signs saying please don't film or don't annoy the employees.  It was mesmerizing how fast the dough from the tubs on the back counter were smashed flat, hole punched, sauced, and topped for the oven.  The prices, and value can't be beat.  The people-watching could be fun, but when it's crowded, it can be overwhelming.  So, don't count on being able to eat a quick meal at picnic table before you load up groceries in your car.

     If you aren't familiar with Costco's Food Court... it is awesome.  The area is clean and kept clean.  Great prices overall, as the hot dog and soda price can't be beat for a daily deal.  The ginormous churros are always a must on my list to take home as a treat for The Boys.  You can call and order the pizza while shopping or packing up to leave work to have it hot and ready as you leave the store.

     I will make some posts on what deals, oddities, and "great idea" moments we had while on our adventure in upcoming posts.  

Life, live it in the present, not the past or future.

-Thursa.

Zettie Walker "Tudy" (Johnson) Bates - My Granny

Zettie Walker "Tudy" (Johnson) Bates - My Granny

      I do not have a picture of my grandmother before this, taken in 1930.  From 1904 when she was born until this photograph sitting in 1930, there is no pictorial reference to her life. She was 26 years old in the photo with her four sons and husband.  Left to right: Greeley, Tudy holding Herman, Grady, Andy, and Cack.


     
     The next picture jumps ahead to the mid-1940s  in a picture of her holding my mother, Molene.  I noted when I was young that my Granny tended to tilt her head a little when she was thinking.  We'd always have to tell Tudy to straighten up her head knowing she would do a head tilt for a picture -she didn't walk around like that -just did it for a picture or when she was thinking something over. She'd then laugh, get tickled and we'd have to pause. Oh, funny memories that makes.  Thanks, Granny.

     When my parents moved to Indiana in the 1960s, they had a telephone installed at my grandparents home.  Mom and Granny were able to keep in touch even though they were separated by many miles.  

     Every Christmas that I recall as a child, we went "home" -to my Granny and Grandpa Bates house.  This as taken Christmas 1964 at Granny's home in the holler of Mill Branch.  Christmas dinner was set on the table, and served after she fed her new granddaughter.  I don't have to close my eyes and I can easily recall a look my Granny would get when she would get to hold a new baby.  She understood how special life was and precious that she was holding a blessing.  I believe it was moments like that she was closest to God, being wholly aware of His miracle. 

     This picture is four generations of Johnson women.  Granny Bates, my Mom, me, and my daughter. No matter how stressed life would be or seem to be rushing past.  A few hours sitting with Granny on the sofa or on the porch and if only for a couple hours... the world would stand still and be calm and you just knew everything would be okay.  Things might be hard, real hard, but in the end it would be okay.

 

     My granny.  She's right.  Life is hard at times, real hard, but in the end it will be okay.