redhenfarm

Cat, that reminds me why camping is so much fun. I think I gained 5 lb. just reading that recipe!

At the diabetes education classes I went to last year they said low carb/Atkins is not a recommended for diabetics because of the possibility of damaging the kidneys. I believe they were referring to Atkins. I understand South Beach allows more vegetables and fruit. Weight Watchers just came out with The Core plan which you can opt for (other plan is Flex Points)and at least some members seem to be having good success with it - including some who are diabetic. I believe the difference from other diets is you can have nonfat dairy products, lean meats, whole grains. If you eat something else (like a hamburger on a bun) then it is counted in a weekly allotment of flex points. I am in this crazy mode where I started walking in late July (usually doing 2 miles most days now) and I'm barely losing weight so I may try Core if I get my doctors approval next month. I wonder if people on The Core will find they are not losing as well after a year.

I'm up, having my second cup of . The sun is out but I have to keep the patio door shut now because it's only 57 and the furnace will come on. Don't need to heat up the outdoors. Our youngest son will be arriving today. Next week we go back to the 11:00 church service. I think I'll like that.

I'm still sitting around in my robe (it's 10 here) but it's Saturday and that's okay. We've had some really hard, extended rains that have pretty much wiped out my dahlias. The black eyed susans are still going strong. I'm picking tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and the pumpkins are forming. Next year I'll get the garden going earlier and hopefully it will do better. My husband is on call this weekend and is out picking up equipment right now. Hopefully he won't have to work too much this weekend. You can't plan going anywhere because he might have to pick up and leave. Thankfully it is only every 3 weeks. Snowmom: Good news about your son's second interview. Hope it works out. A job is a job. Briget: Good to hear from you. Are you all sun tanned? Lois: It's nice having your family together.

Thank you for the prayers and well wishes, friends.

On Tuesday my oldest son called me to tell me he had been fired from his job. He's been there for three years and although it can be greatly frustrating he was good at what he did. He was one of four or five cooks at a residential training program for young adults. Part of what he did and was really good at was mentoring the students. Many came to talk to him and would tell him they were able to stick with the program because of talking to him. I felt like he had really found his niche. This is what happened: he closed the kitchen and was going home when he was stopped at the security gate. They searched his backpack and found some apples and oranges. They made him return them to the kitchen and when he passed by the gate again there were several off duty officers (who live there) laughing at him. Pretty humiliating. The other part of this is most of the staff do bring home food that is going to be wasted and their manager allowed it. He said he felt horrible and was up most of the night feeling sick about this. The next morning he called his manager to ask if he should come in or if he's fired. The manager assured him he wouldn't be fired. So he went to work and after awhile his boss's boss called him into the office and fired him. Another cook had this happen a couple of weeks before and was excused. He had a hard time getting ahold of anyone down there to find out when to pick up his check and he didn't feel good about picking it up at that security gate. Interestingly, the human resources called him and asked for a written statement - they wanted to hear his side of the story. So he did that and then they called and said an investigation was being conducted and they wanted to give him an "exit interview". They usually only give people who quit this kind of interview and it looks like that will happen next week and they said he would be on payroll until then. My heart is broken about this. He may have no reference for the past three years. Even if staff feel he did a good job they are not allowed to give a reference. My feelings about it - I don't think he should have brought the fruit home. Under the circumstances where other staff are doing this regularly I don't think he should have been fired and the way the security acted with off duty officers coming up to gloat over this is very unprofessional. Those of you who pray, please pray God use this for good somehow and that he will be able to find employment.

My Aunt's was built in and much longer than that (Pullman type kitchen) and with a lot more space. So I'm thinking it was newer than the one shown but with the same kind of ideas. I remember those great big flour and sugar bins. Across the room from that unit was the stove and a enamel or porcelain type sink and cabinets. Wow, could you pinch your fingers on those drawers if you closed them wrong!

I'm not sure what makes a cupboard a Hoosier but it sounds like what my elderly aunts had in their kitchen. It was a wall unit of cupboards. On the end was a large cupboard above with several shelves and another below for things like pots and pans. The upper shelf was where they kept their oatmeal in a jar, raisins in a jar, brown sugar in a jar and various and sundry basics. Oh - also salt in a jar. Toward the center of the unit were two bins for flour and sugar and above that were glass cupboards for their dishes. Then some drawers for pots and pans, utensils and at the very end was a cupboard they kept their mop, broom, a bag with odd things like beeswax, a floor polisher. There was also a breadboard in the middle. Also a countertop in black linoleum. Under the glass cupboards was a little shelf for spices. My aunt was a marvelous cook and I learned a lot of great things from her.

That's an interesting article, Joan. It got me to wondering if ADHD is a "newer" or "American" diagnosis (such as diet, additive caused) because it struck me that people in simpler cultures would no doubt get plenty of that "green" time naturally.

That sounds like a very good way to enjoy a summer evening. We have an owl near our house and it's fun to go out in the back yard at night to look at stars and hear the owl. Lately I can hear the crickets even from our bedroom.

Good news that things are okay for your Mom.

Buttercup, You live quite a bit away from me so how about a report on Carla's visit for those of us who can't come?

Joan, That's beautiful scenery. I don't blame you for taking a break from the snake place. Hopefully you can go a good, long while without seeing any - or how about forever? We met two dogs today who looked to be some kind of smaller lab mix and they were such friendly sweethearts but they hated bees and would leap into the air to snap at them to kill them. Good dogs!

I received a postcard from Ginger also. Beautiful.

Still raining here and it's 60 right now. High will be 67. My bedroom is very clean except I need to tackle the miniblinds. I love the way they look - hate to clean 'em. Also got the kitchen cupboards wiped down. Today is grocery shopping. Unikemom: Good for you teaching your boys to pick up after themselves.

MrsBigRedDog: Glad you are here and just post away to your hearts content. Mmmmmm. See what happens - Unikemom is making pumpkin pie! Wonderful.

I love that bench! It reminds me of one my grandfather made but it's a bit taller than the one described (he and my Dad were tall guys) and a bit longer. Right now one of my sons has it but we wanted to build some more for ourselves and our other son.

We went to our county fair recently and my son's coworker's daughters had a lot of entries including chickens. They told us the roosters are really ornery and you have to watch that claw. Of course, all we had to do was admire them from outside the cage.

Good morning everyone More rain today. It sure makes things dark. I haven't had to turn lights on except in the evening for a long time. It's 62 with a high of 67. Actually if we get clearings that is comfortable. It's housecleaning here today.

Wow, Westie, you are a "last minute woman". I want to see the scarecrow, too. I wish there were "scare pigeons".

Welcome to the porch! So cats rule in your household I am down to one, Bobbi, since my little Janey passed on last month. I've had up to three at a time. It will be good to get to know you.

Here's another autumn lover. We usually have wonderful Indian Summers so I remember starting back to school and getting too warm wearing a new sweater or jacket to school.I love the crisp, cool air and the smell of autumn. My kids are grown and I don't have grandchildren but I decorate for autumn. I put a mailbox cover on my mailbox that has a country barn and lots of pumpkins. I have two garden flags that I change to one with a woman in her kitchen with the harvest and another with a squirrel. I have a big basket I got a good deal on and right now I have about 5 little mums of different colors on the front doorstep (we're already in the 60s most days). Golly I need to pull out my autumn box to see what all is in there. I also choose to see positive in seeing the children come to Trick or Treat and enjoy giving them candy but I feel a bit sad that no longer can you make homemade cookies and not have them thrown out because some people have ruined it for all. I love Thanksgiving although I wish I had a DIL who wanted to cook/help. DH is engrossed in ball games on TV. My oldest son works on Thursdays but if he's here he makes the best gravy. Our Japanese Maple usually loses it's leaves in November. They used to blow away down the hill somewhere but the last two years they land in our driveway I almost am embarrassed to admit it but I miss the comforting sound of the heat coming on in the morning. Soon enough, soon enough.

Eleven miles here.

Good afternoon: I'm cleaning. Wouldn't you know I ran my vacuum cleaner into the afghan fringe and I sure hope the belt didn't get ruined. I could smell the burned rubber. Rats! We are expecting rain all week. Two days of pouring down rain on the weekend but now it's rain and then some clearings. The leaves on the Japanese Maple are starting to turn but that's pretty much as usual for here at this time of year. Tomatoes and cucumbers are taking off, zucchini and green beans are growing and the pumpkin is taking off. I'm curious to see how those white pumpkins look and how many I get. I'm going to bake cinnamon puff muffins this afternoon then I hope to freeze some. At lunch DH put in his order for some homemade bread so that will be another day this week. Buttercup: What a perfect job for you! It works so well with your kids and convenience. My youngest son is only making $7.50 after being with a manufacturing company for 5 years. He keeps hoping they'll do the right thing by him - I hope so. Our value isn't by the dollar sign we earn but we need enough to get by. Unikemom: I can smell your potroast cooking way over here. Theyd: What a houseful, lady! Countrymom: Have you read all of Beverly Lewis's books? I've got The Shining, The Confession and The Reckoning set to start when I finish my current book.I've heard a lot of good about them. Snowmom: Wow! Frost already. Have a good week with Pooh and Tigger. Diinmi: Bet it feels good to have the wood taken care of and in a good place. Becca Anne: Isn't it amazing what can hide in your closet? I need to do just what you are doing.