The Barn Is Done

and it truly is beautiful.
We know we hit a homerun too.... everyone who sees it is in awe. Women gasp......"OOhhhh it's greeat!!!!!"

Men are the biggest kick to watch.... much more discerning. They will walk in and just take it all in for a minute. To a man, they stand there with one arm across the chest, hand cradling the elbow of the other arm. The hand of the cradled up by the face, stroking the chin or cheek, lip pursed, eyes scanning the ceiling, the walls, the shelves, the worktop...... If there are more than one, they huddle together, stroking and furtively pointing at the attention to detail in construction.

And then they say, in reverent and slightly whispered tone, "I want one."

I know! We want another one already!

The veggies are growing and thriving. We ordered and received a roll of row cover material and have so far covered only two beds; the artichoke and tender greens but I am ready with the hoops to cover two more. The broccoli are looking great and although there are plenty of flowers on the peas, not all that many have pods. Some, and those are slow to grow. SO now I know, I should plant them farther in the north raised beds if they are going to get enough sunlight in the fall. Once the leaves finish falling, these will get more warm sun, but at the moment, they live in heavy dappling shade. I will do all I can to keep them alive under the wraps as the days get colder and the winds increase.

My daughter rescued a chicken in Florida and is going in with her neighbor to have a small flock!!!! How cool is this!? Very small, however. The towns restrictions are 2 per household..... ridiculous. 2? It's hardly worth the bother..... and only half the fun. You need enough to have a proper self-respecting flock! I mean, how on Earth can they establish any form of pecking order? 2 is just a squabble, surely. .... Well, if they EACH get 2 and house them in the same coop, that's 4. I think they could handle that. The chickens, I mean. Girls can handle anything!

Had a blast learning how to program a computerized quilting machine yesterday. Once you know the HOW, it seems (almost) easy; but getting to that place was a long process. The one I use has no computer but I look at it now and wonder....... can I get an after-market add-on? I really like free-motion. It's a thing about the freeness of it but I can also see the freedom I would feel at the end of this long list of quilts ready to finally use. I have a closet of quilttops that are neglected and shelves of fabric waiting to be cut. At this rate, I'll NEVER die. (of course, that IS my ultimate plan......)

One in Five

This was from CNBC today. The headline on Drudge said "1 in 5 Americans Mentally Ill"

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans had mental illness in 2009

Published: Thursday, 18 Nov 2010 | 1:13 PM ET

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CHICAGO - More than 45 million Americans, or 20 percent of U.S. adults, had some form of mental illness last year, and 11 million had a serious illness, U.S. government researchers reported on Thursday.

Young adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest level of mental illness at 30 percent, while those aged 50 and older had the lowest, with 13.7 percent, said the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA.

The rate, slightly higher than last year's 19.5 percent figure, reflected increasing depression, especially among the unemployed, SAMHSA, part of the National Institutes of Health, said.

"Too many Americans are not getting the help they need and opportunities to prevent and intervene early are being missed," Pamela Hyde, SAMHSA's administrator, said in a statement.

So, one in five. And they all work for the TSA.

Louisiana

has the best food, the best weather, the best events, the best people in this already terrific country. I hate to say it, but comparatively speaking, we got it ALL. Plus, we have sense of humor about it. And we like to share our bounty and blessings with the rest of the country.

While much of the US is about to go under wraps due to cold weather, we are walking shirts off and sandals and shorts, enjoying a lengthy autumnal splendor display and deep blue skies overhead. It's a joy to be outdoors!

This has been a most splendid week of fine weather wit the 3 Rivers Art Festival in Covington (this has to be the Supreme collection of craftsmen gathered along a 6 block stretch of downtown Smalltown, America.) To top it off, it starts on a Saturday and they keep the weekly Farmers Market open as well, so we are able to enjoy both things simultaneously. How great is that?

But enough gloating on our great good fortune. On top topical stuff like what's growing.

We have in the garden a vast number of different greens; 4 types of kale, onions, broccoli, raab, rutabagas, beets, carrots, arugula, collards, peas, much more. A friend had asked what all was out there and when I rattled off the list, she said, "Oooohh you have the makings of green gumbo!" which was news to me! I have never heard of this so I looked up the recipe online and made it last night.

Green Gumbo (Gumbo Z’Herbes)

4 ounces thick cut bacon chopped up 12 ounces andouille sausage sliced 1/4″ thick 3 tablespoons flour 8 cloves garlic finely minced 1 large onion minced 2-3 jalapeno chilis seeds removed and minced (add less if you want it mild) 1 pound greens ( 1 bunch of lacinato kale, 1 bunch beet greens, mustard greens, and some carrot and celery leaves) and Chris added to this arugula, more kale, collars, raab, oniontops, shallots, everything growing out there went into that pot! 8 ounces clam juice (Chris did not use this. I used instead fish stock) 2 cups vegetable stock 6 ounces okra trimmed and roughly chopped

1 teaspoon celery seed 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Cooked brown rice

AWESOME!!!!!!!! I am thankful I made such a large pot of too, because I want it again and fast.

But today, I am itching to make meatballs and sauce. Working our way thru the pantry stocks.

How Many Men.....

...does it take to install one electrical meter?

3 and here are 2 of them.
AND

And

and they arrived in ..... wait for it... 3 separate installation trucks. True.

But this means we have illumination in the barn. So how cool is that?

Also I have finished the second Leslie BOMb, the Christmas Quilt.

So that a plus.

Yesterday was splendid outside and took advantage of the warmer weather to plant the leeks I started weeks ago and they are still quite small. I used the English method of growing and planting and got 28 seedlings started now in the beds. We ordered row covering last week that I hopes arrives quickly.

I love leek soup but here's a question...... why are they so darned expensive in the grocery? Because they take so long to grow? Then why are lettuce so expensive? They pop up overnight! Short shelf life I suppose. I am grateful to be able to grow our own.

Last week we had a forecast of exceptionally cold nights so we covered the peas and I think that really helped them. Alas, the lettuces, chard and onions took a direct hit. I think they will revive with the covers.

The chickens are slowing down on production now... the hours of light have diminished to less than 12 each day. And daylight savings has changed the dawn from 7 am to 6 am but that doesn't stop Stu from screaming at what is now 3am. Fool. They see me coming and make a beeline to the gate in hopes of treats. Have they got me trained, or what!

Okay... Seriously....

They come as pets in pairs?

How do you get 2 anteaters in a BED? Did someone build a ramp?

I only ask because I think I want one. How cute is this?

or two. Yes two. Definitely two. That is so cute. I thought cats were cute. But this...... and funny.

Oh my gosh!!!! There are more videos! Did YOU know people have anteaters as pets? Really? This never occurred to me before..... but I suppose if people have skunks as pets...... Really?

No I don't want an anteater! Yes they are cute but whoa.... I just watched another vid:

Uh clearly.... they don't NEED ramps!

$600,000,000.00

The price tag for Prez. Obama 3-day "visit" to Bombay, India.

Primarily for Security. Understandable when you consider that Bombay was the target not that long ago, and from the sea. And India, where Indira Ghandi was assassinated by her OWN guards in Delhi.

6oo million dollars.

6 Hundred Million Dollars

At least, that is what we've been told it's costing. You have to wonder what else it's gonna cost us.

Compromise. Of Course!!!!

It's both unbelievable and predictable.

NOW, after 4 years of hammering the right with her mighty mallet, Pelosi's Left want the Republicans to "come to the table" and compromise. Now, they tell the Republicans they have to present ideas to get the country moving again.

Right right right..... as though they haven't been elbowing their opposition out the door, told them to sit in the back and "they won" so shut up.

You better remember.

Remember this face. This is the face you get to look at in the Senate for 6 MORE YEARS!

Okay now to the Right: you BETTER not forget what the "great unwashed" has elected you to do, You will get no more chances.

And Media: you're as done and gone as you can possibly be. Exposed as the enablers you are to the Progressives.

George Soros..... keeping spending your billions, you hypocrite. Or better yet, go mess with Russia! or China! or Cuba! GO "help" them be the country you think THEY should be.

Day 6 of Melatonin

Well, I have to say it appears to be working. I get deeper sleep and stay asleep longer now. I have been taking it consistently at 8:45 and fall asleep immediately but I think that is my normal self anyway.

The one thing troubling is the vivid dreams. They are what I used to experience and I rarely remember them after a day but if I awaken in the night because of one, I lay there thinking about them. A couple of times I had to get up. I am making a concerted effort to NOT get up. But if the dream is unnerving (and two HAVE been) I find I am afraid. So I get up and walk around.

So, dilemma... which is worse: 1. lack of sleep or 2. scary dreams?

In my life, I have found that if I remember to add the request of no dreams or sweet dreams (if I MUST dream) in my prayers, the request is ALWAYS answered. Isn't that weird?

I'll say (or think) "Ok God... I really need to not dream tonight so if you could work that out for me, I would really appreciate it, but if I have to dream could you at least make it not scary?"

Works every time it's tried.

Another side effect of the Mel is high energy levels. I wake up raring to go... don't know where that might be but by golly, I'm ready!

I am also ready to get the holiday preps underway. I want to slide into Christmas stressless. Well, who wouldn't?

I am not going to make my targeted project in time, alas. I have only the borders to go on the 2nd Leslie BOM, the Christmas one but at the rate of speed, I will not finish all six, quilted, before Dec.31. Ain't gonna happen. The Blue and Gold is done (not quilted) and I have the fabric lined up to complete the tops of the Oriental and RW&Bs but I still have blocks to make for the Brights. Boo. OK I must give myself slack and think if I get 2 more completed (not quilted) by New Years, that will still be an accomplishment.

And at the end of the day (year) the deadline was imposed by me alone with no reward for completion nor demerit for failure. I refuse to think of NOT sewing EVERYTHING as a failure but, rather, sewing lots of stuff a success.

It really is all about perspective and balance.

On that note: here is the status of the veg garden

Closest to you is the kale, arugla, more kale and Chard

The back bed has beets and carrots! Carrots!!

Left: kholrabi, lettuce and cabbage, collards, brussells and raab

Right: Kale, spinach, broccoli

Can you tell we like kale? And lots of it, please!

Someone Posted This....

in a comments section on Facebook..... isn't it lovely?.

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