Rant

I try not to do this often.  On the whole, I can't think of life getting much better.  Then along come our elected officials and do what they can to spoil a good feeling.  Let me establish background.  I am a social liberal (I know that will come as a surprise to you) and a fiscal moderate.  I am not a Democrat or a Republican.  I vote my conscience, not my party.  Having said that, let me tell you the issue of suing the president is absolutely ridiculous!  What an expensive, politically motivated waste of time.  I thought we sent these people , these "representatives" to move our country forward.  Instead, they play stupid little games most of us gave up when we left the sandlot!  I know I'm going to contact our representative and let her know how little I think of her decision to play the game.  While at it, I'll contact the other two and let them know as well.  This is NOT a political issue.  It is a common sense issue, and as of this moment, they ain't got it.  But thank god for you!  You are loved!

#400 should be

Monumental.  And yet, it's another day in the realm of normal.  Well, as normal as my world ever is.  Up for a bike.  Play a little bridge.  Go to yoga.  Eat last night's supper for lunch.  Water the yard.  Go visit Edith.  And enjoy the absolutely gorgeous South Dakota day.  Come to think of it, if I could I would build a monument to comparative normalcy!  A little physical.  A little mental.  A little spiritual.  A little gastronomical.  And a whole lot of lucky!
I am blessed because
I can
I do
I love
And it's you!

New fudge flavor

There are things that truly trip my trigger...spending time with friends...biking through corn field surrounded areas...giving speeches...my bride...and new fudge flavors.  Like most of the recent attempts, this idea came from the penultimate item on my list...as most of my good ideas do!  Still in the beta testing stage, attempt #1 was a true success.  Attempt #2, a slight variant of #1, is cooling as we speak.  Instead of crusting only the top, there is a chocolate crust on the bottom as well!  And dark chocolate at that. Oh, and peanut butter fudge in between!  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so...check out the thousand replacement and know you are loved!

The first day home

Travel does it to me.  No matter how much I enjoy myself, the first day home I'm spent.  Managed to stay awake long enough to get the lawn mowed and buy some Chester's Fried Chicken for supper.  Not to be totally remiss in the healthy eats department, we had beets from the garden, peas from the garden, cucumbers from the garden, and sweet corn from the vendor on the corner.  Now it's time to let those things blend and lead me directly into la-la land!  Home is good, sleep is good, and you are loved!

I've seen the light

As we sit in the Charlotte airport, waiting for the transport back as far as Minneapolis, I have time to think back on our two weeks away.  Learning, playing, laughing, loving...but I'm ready for home.  With any luck at all, the lawn will need to be mowed, the cucumbers will need to be picked, clothes will need to be washed, and bikes will need to be ridden!  I would not give up a minute of the time we have spent away!  I would not give up the joy that is going home.  It's win, win!  I think I say that every time our horizons broaden.  Redundancy in the elderly should not be a surprise.  What might surprise you is the picture for today.  Lake Lakota, sunrise, and a spiritual connection to life!  May you see the light in a similar way, and know you are loved

Reflections on the Blue Ridge

There's an inherent peace in the mountains of Carolina...a time when mind and soul can actually blend, evaluating and renewing.  The scenery is breathtaking, no matter where you look...whether we're looking out the back door, hiking up the mountain, or playing Bocci ball in the park, one only need to turn a little to be overwhelmed by the grandeur!  Couple that beauty with the knowledge that  we are sharing this with amazing people, and on reflection, life is good!  Know that you are loved!

Phriday Phood from Carolina!

Sitting on the deck, looking out at the Blue Ridge Parkway, filled, formulating plans for the day, and as my friend Dave says, livin' large!  But of course, it is Friday, so...here's a little ez lunch!  Enjoy and know you are loved!

Curried Chicken Salad

cooked chicken
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. curry powder
Chop chicken into small bite-size pieces.  Add onion and celery.  Mix mayo with curry powder and add to chicken.  Chill 2-4 hours to allow flavors to blend.  Serve with fresh bread, in a melon round, or stuffed in sweet baby peppers.

Up the mountain

There's just something about an unexamined road heading up the mountain.  There are so many possibilities.  Someone once said the unexamined life is not worth living.  It was someone important. I'll look it up later.  So we examined.  Now, for that next road.  Find your own path, and know you are loved!

Thank goodness for Google!

Delta dawn

Early up, checked in, waiting for the plane.  Hush hush, sweet Charlotte, we will be there soon!  Travel is always an adventure, but more fun with friends going to visit friends.  And the people watching is amazing.  I especially like the patterned socks on the lady sitting across the way!  When I told her that, I'm pretty sure she thought I was a pervert, stalking her, but she did say thanks, so who knows!  Part of the crew just walked by, so it looks like a go...at least so far!  Have no idea about connectivity in the mountains, but will do my best to keep you up to speed on the innocents at home tour!  Know you are loved!

My kinds of hosts

Last week, our hosts told us where to find the key, how to make the place habitable, and trusted us to not burn the place down!  Amazingly relaxing time with truly good friends.
This week, our hosts gave us the entry code to get into the house, told us where the beer was, and opened their home and hearts to us!  Amazingly relaxing time with truly good friends.
Tomorrow, our hosts will meet us at their home in the mountains, provide breathtaking scenery and will tell us where the beer is.  Looking so forward to an amazingly relaxing time with truly good friends!
Seems like we rely on the kindness of friends.  True that!  We are blessed, in oh so many ways, and you are loved!

The odor...discovered

It was a bad news good news discovery.  Let me take you back.  We had a leak around the chimney.  Since we no longer used the chimney for the heating system, it was easiest just to remove the chimney from the roof and cover the hole.  Problem solved.  Then, the smell.  Couldn't figure it out.  Called the plumber.  Not an air conditioner problem...but the smell was worse when the a/c ran.  Not the chimney.  Carpenter checked and chimney in attic was contained and clean.  Hmmmmmm!  Today, carpenter continues search and goes to the basement.  Turns the corner and discovers the gas hot water heater is vented directly into...you guessed it...the closed off chimney!  We figure we're amazingly lucky to be alive!  Here's the rub.  That's the good news!  The bad news is we now have a brand spanking new ELECTRIC hot water heater.  Pocketbook bad news, but at least we are here to spend it!  I guess I can no longer say that stinks!  Have a fresh air kind of day and know you are loved!

Great faces, great places

Assignment:  with camera in hand, approach Mt. Rushmore to take photos that might not be taken by someone else.  Darn that clever Shephard.  Just enough of a twist to make the assignment a challenge.  I have several photos of "the boys", from several different angles and several different distances.  I'm sure someone has done them all before.  So, thinks I,  "Great Faces"...

Meet Charlie, the park ranger!  When asked if I could take his picture, he replied, "The minute I put on this uniform I belong to you."  I took that as a yes and he put away his sunglasses, put on the ones you see, and graciously posed.  Great Face!

This is Tom.  He was resting along a path, contemplating life in his universe.  When asked if I could take his picture, his response was "What would you like me to do?"  Be Tom.  Great Face!

As you may guess, it wasn't the face of Consuelo that captured my imagination!  Not everyone can pull off a pink cowboy hat.  But underneath the hat was this beautiful visage of an 84 year old lady from he Phillipines, here visiting her daughter.  What a gracious lady!  What a Great Face!

The perpetrator of the experiment.  I believe he may well have been amusing himself with the completion of his own assignment...a photograph of a Mount Rushmore snow globe offered for sale in the gift shop.  I told you he was deucedly clever.  And a Great Face!

There you have it...four great faces from one of my favorite great places.  How'd I do?  Always know that you are loved!

The rule of thirds

It"s all about composition!  Put the right things in the right frame, and you have an amazing image!  But where you put them is important, and what they abut is important.  Sort of like life.  Put the right people together, put them with the right influences, and you have an amazing image!  Funny.  Life imitates art!  Of course, sometimes you have to break the rules!  Hence, today's image!  Find the ones who complete your image, and know you are loved!

Phriday Phood phrenzy

A two-fer day!  Rocks and food!  How can one go wrong?  Today's special?  Caramel pull-a-parts.  You'll want a Bundt pan, an oven, and the following ingredients:

3 packages refrigerated biscuits

1 cup sugar

1 - 2 tbs cinnamon

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Generously butter your Bundt pan.  Preheat your oven to 350.  Have an adult beverage.

Separate the biscuits.  Combine the sugar and cinnamon.  Place in a plastic bag.  Place five biscuits at a time into the sugar mixture and shake to coat each.  Stand on end in Bundt pan.  Continue until all biscuits are coated and in the pan.  Pour remaining sugar mixture over the top.  Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over biscuits.  Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and invert onto a serving plate.  Makes 30 biscuits..enough for 8.

And if I've posted this before, try it again!  Know you are loved!

Between a rock and a hard place!

The rock?  All around us.  The beauty that is nature is constantly "wow" inspiring!  Turn and find something to prove the joy and beauty that is life.  The hard place?  Come to think of it, there really isn't one today!  Just the drop dead gorgeous rock!  Know always that you are loved!

The hills are alive

Our home for the next few days!  It's tough duty, but....  In fact, I just managed to pry my eyes open following a quick power nap, somewhat induced by the 25 ounce Chilada that accompanied lunch on the back deck!  The morning was phenomenal, with a lovely walk and climb followed by a quick tour of Keystone (from whence came the abundantly sized Chilada!).  Then lunch with the woman I love amidst the splendor that is the Black Hills of South Dakota.  A deer joined us for a bit, somewhat perplexed by someone in her environ. But she stayed just a bit and then wandered off.  One could almost call the setting Idyllic!  On our wanderment this morning, to our wonderment, we came across some flora that just begged to be chronicled, so of course, I did.  Maria had it right...the hills are alive!  Enjoy vicariously, and know you are loved!

Workshop

Lost once.  Found cabin.  Gone to Custer...down private road.  Not shot!  At Burger and Bun...rated top burger joint in the country.  Waiting.  Will report.  Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty. Pretty!
You are loved!

The odor

Mysterious.  At times, pungent.  Always annoying.  It seems to be coming from the clothes chute, permeating the upstairs.  But no one can identify the source!  It isn't mildew.  It isn't ripe clothing waiting to be processed.  Have no idea what it is.  Will see what our carpenter thinks.  The furnace/ac man was perplexed.  But a mystery has a solution, and we will find it...eventually.  Until then, we ponder...and you?  You are loved!

Monday's Mental Musings

Alliteration is a gift from god.

If there are white caps on Lake Oahe, are they caused by the dam wind?

To the lovely lady in the yellow convertible...thank you for following the rules.  May 15-Sept.30--no exceptions--no rain?  Top down.  I was proud of you.  And hoped you had your woolies on!

To the gentleman in the white sedan--I'm sorry.  I didn't know you had a turn signal.  I made you wait, and I hope you didn't miss the turn!  (There is obviously a reason I choose to wear a helmet!)

Old knees can tolerate biking better than running!  (See doc, you were right!)

Who moved Lake Oahe to Watertown?  I'm tired of this dam wind!

The best way to start a new week is loved!  And you are!

Scones...with friends

There is something gastronomically pleasing about a scone that will melt in your mouth.  I have such a recipe!  When in need of a treat, they are my go-to weekend brunch staple.  Today, they were craisin/pecan and Reese's Pieces.  They did not disappoint.  However, they were not the highlight of the meal.  Our guests were!  Two amazing women who have impressed me over the years with their intelligence, their wit, and their compassion!  One is lucky to be able to claim one such friend.  I married one!  I met several over the years who have made significant impact in and on my life!  So what makes these two so unique?  They are mother and daughter!  And they, like you, ARE loved!

The perfection of imperfection

Blazoned on the covers...beautiful, nubile young ladies with most of their parts exposed...young men with abs that don't exist in nature, much less this household...tables set perfectly...homes designed creatively...perfection.  Hogwash!  As I was enmeshed in my extremely creative, highly unsuccessful search of flora phenomenal with my camera this morning, I came up with these

Sometimes it is difficult to see through that which surrounds us.  Even though the daisy is partially hidden by the volunteer dill, it manages to silently impress.  We should also!

Sometimes, plants, like people don't develop symmetrically!  Parts may be missing, or hidden from view. Are the lily or the Gerbera any less amazing?

Even enjoying it's last bit of time, this flower has an amazing structure.  Notice the reach and impact it still has!  Do we recognize that in our older friends?

Though the focus on this shot hones in on the two stalks of flowers behind it, the celosia still manages to find a way to make a statement.  We may not always be the focus, but we can always be who and what we are!

Now it's time to be extremely thankful.  I truly thought of a selfie here, taken among the beauty that I see in our back yard every day.  I refrained!  I was afraid the abs would make you envious.  Oh, they're there, partially hidden by their surrounding avoirdupois, asymmetrically developed, obviously old, and, had you been lucky, out of focus.  But they're mine, and I think I'll keep them.  After all, they still work!  Find the beauty that is you, and share it with the world.  Know you are loved!

Phryday Phood--Chocolate...chipped!

Every once in a while, I find myself perplexed by life.  Why, I ponder, can't there be an easy way to elevate one's mood without the use of alcohol or drugs.  Surely there must be some substance that when combined with natural ingredients, increases the metabolism and satisfies a longing at the same time.  Well, of course there is.  It's called chocolate!  Considered by some to be the perfect food category (of course it's a category!  It must be on the food pyramid somewhere?!), it's consumable in a myriad of forms.  One of the easiest, of course, is the chocolate bar.  What, I wonder, would happen if you were to take that bar and chop it into little chips?  Oh wait, that's been done as well.  Okay, how about adding those natural ingredients mentioned above and baking them?  Well, cookie, someone has done that as well.  In fact, there must be 100's of chocolate chip recipes, some fabled, some on packages, but all supposedly the best.  Never shy, and not to be outdone, I would offer you the following.  It came from the neighbor, about 38 years ago.  The humor to that is, her son loves "my" chocolate chip cookies!  And when he comes home, I make them!   Hint--these do not hold well in a jar.  You want to freeze them when they have cooled (those that are left after the "eat them while they're warm" stage).  They nuke well, or are simply audaciously good frozen!  Enjoy them and know you are loved!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter                                        

1 cup Butter Flavored Crisco             

2 cups white sugar                              

2 cups brown sugar  

2 tsp. vanilla             

4 eggs       

4 cups flour              

5 cups oatmeal

2 tsp. soda

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

2-12 oz. pkgs. Chocolate chips (I mix dark and semi-sweet)

 

Directions:

Cream shortening and butter.  Add sugars and beat until mixed.  Add eggs and beat until fluffy.  Add vanilla.  In separate bowl, combine 2 cups flour and 2 cups oatmeal.  Add 1 tsp. salt, soda, and baking powder.  Stir until well mixed.  Add remaining flour and oatmeal.  Add remaining salt, soda, and baking powder.  Stir until well mixed.  Add liquid ingredients and stir until blended.  Add chocolate chips and stir.  Using a small ice-cream scoop, place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet.  (I have recently discovered parchment paper.  Line the pans with this and clean up is a breeze!!!) Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

Religious restauranteurs

We're busy!  We have started making appointments to go out to eat with friends!  Now that bites, but it's better than being bored, right?  So, we have this date for supper on Monday night.  I had forgotten that apparently Monday night in the temple of the cook is the seventh day!  Had three fun places in mind.  Apparently the owners of these establishments had fun on their minds as well, so they will be pursuing theirs whilst we continue to look!  On, I understand there are a myriad of places that are open, but we were looking for adventure...a road trip...something different.  Alas, as of now, it ain't gonna happen!  But never one to give up, I shall persevere!  There must be some agnostic cooks out there somewhere!  Enjoy your repasts, and know you are loved!

New year"s Eve...the reprise

It's a day of fun and games!  The couple with whom we have spent New Year's Eve for the last twenty plus years and we will meet at his new home in Sioux Falls and eat and play our way through the day.  Somehow, we will all mange to win some, lose some, laugh, eat a lot, and celebrate the love that is friendship!  It's not about the monumental events...it's about with whom you spend them!  We are blessed, and you are loved!

Howard, Winfred, and Junius!

34.  That would be highway 34, west out of Madison, SD.  We did a fraud watch training in Howard today, and Babs (that would be our GPS system in the road car [not to be confused with the Neon, which pretty much is the garage car!]) took us to Madison, through Junius, around Winfred, and into Howard.  The trip there was direct.  We needed to get to the Miner county courthouse for our session.  If you've never been to Howard, you are missing the promenade to that aforementioned edifice!  Main Street turns into a gorgeous divided boulevard leading up to the end of the street, and there, precluding you from going any farther in the direction you are headed, sits the court house.  To me, an auspicious approach.  The court personnel were amazingly friendly.  They felt as if they knew me, and come to find out, they did!  Most of them had been at a presentation I had done here in town!  Think Disney..."It's a Small World".  Anyhow, we did the training for the four people who showed up, got in the car, did a tour of Howard and headed home.  Of course, we had to take the turn off to Winfred since neither if us had ever been there (don't you just envy retired people).  The road to the town limits is paved, but once you enter the metropolitan area, all the streets are gravel.  We were especially taken with Hotel street, (a one block stretch of dusty road with nary a building on it) and looked for the shopping Mecca of the town.  We found the post office, the old school now inhabited by the purveyors of bee hives and beeswax (which I didn't mind!), and what appeared to be a beer storage facility.  As we left town, I had the eerie feeling if we had stayed any longer, we might never have been heard from again.  Anyway, back on paved road to 34 and east to Junius.  Since we were in our meandering mood, we decided to survey the splendors of Junius.  Turns out you can do that making no turns whatsoever!  It exists as a ribbon community lining each side of 34!  Stay on the highway and you've seen the town!  It was then a tour around Lake Herman (okay, we only went part way!) and on into Madison.  Having spent time in Madison, we foreswore any further exploration and headed for home.
What difference could this possibly make to you?  Probably none.  But for once, we took a little time to stop along the way and "smell the roses", and I highly recommend it!  You deserve it, and you are loved!

The first!

It was a glorious morning...as attested by the first morning glorious of the season.  This lovely lady was obviously in the accelerated class, showing her finery well before the foliage covered the trellis.  True blue, she shimmered in the morning sun, bearing promise of those to follow, and heralding the true joy that is summer.  With any luck at all, her ilk will be joined by pink, maroon, and white sisters as they decide to show their wears.  But the first?  Well, she's just special.  Even the sun thought so, highlighting her very existence!  Of course, by this evening, she was spent, leaving just a memory...and a photograph to remind me of the joy she created!  Gone, but monumental in her brief appearance!  Find the firsts that create a resonant chord in your life, and know you are loved!

Phriday Phood a little late

One of my biggest challenges in the kitchen, and there have been some monumental ones, is to find a good baking powder biscuit!  Some are too flakey.  Some taste too much like a single ingredient rather than a composite making a complete, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth biscuit.  Well, mi esposa wanted creamed turkey on baking powder biscuits.  In truth, she would have preferred to skip the turkey, but the carnivore to whom she is married needs protein, so, creamed turkey...heavy veg!  But I digress...surprise!  So, to the web go I in search of yet another candidate!  I'm not saying perfection has been found, but these are darn close.  They melt in your mouth. They have a touch of sweet and an amazing texture.  And they're easy!  Give 'em a try, and know you are loved!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 3 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup cold butter

• 1 egg

• 2/3 cup milk

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat egg and milk; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
2. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; roll to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-1/2-in. floured biscuit cutter. Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: 10 biscuits.

Appropriate blog title

It was one of those wonderful, gee, we're retired and can do whatever was want, kind of days.  Trip to farmers' market.  Found great beets and kale.  Mi esposa says, "should we check out the farmer's market in Brookings?"  "Sure!", so we hop into the pick up and head south.  Ran into a long time friend who does family organic things so we got to catch up with her.  Met another good friend there and went out for lunch.  Tasty food and better company.  Headed home, stopped at Menards for vermin food (philosophy...if you feed the gosh darn rabbits, maybe they won't think your garden plants look like a Caesar salad!), stopped at Hy-vee for four cases of marshmallow cream (only the essentials) and have alit on North Broadway.  I know, I know.  Tough duty, but someone has to do it!  But it does verify the ezbzontheroad moniker!  May you be as lucky as we, and know how much you are loved!

Ooh! Aah!

There's something inherently pleasing about color and sound as it explodes over our heads.  Invariably it elicits some reaction, usually akin to today's title.  For me, the amazement at the skilled creators of such showpieces always humbles me.  How do they do that?  How did they even think to try it?  Amazing.  I guess some things simply exist to be enjoyed, so every year I do my part!  Tonight, as the Boston Pops plays "The Stars and Stripes Forever", I will sit agape in front of the tube  and revel in the fact that I have the freedom to do just that!  And if you listen very carefully, at least one "ooh" will escape!  Celebrate this birthday and know you are loved!

There are three things that are certain.

Forget the death and taxes thing.  It's trite.  Go instead with these three:
1) when riding bike, no matter which way you turn, the wind will be in your face.  I can't explain it.  I can only complain it.  Just when I expect the whee of wind at my back, wham, wind in my face.  Or could it just be I?  Perhaps I expect too much?  Hmmmmm.
2) there is no way to weed a rose garden without drawing blood.  No matter how careful I am, someone plants a rose twig somewhere with the thorns pointing at my hands.  Or I lose concentration and reach through the bush to pull a weed.  Or I'm just plain stupid.  Whatever the reason, there is blood.  (Side note--the exception to this rule could occur while wearing gloves.  Gloves?  While weeding?  Wuss!)
3) It's geometrically more fun to make a mess than clean it up!  Bread is proofing in the oven.  Kitchen is a god-awful mess.  Think I'll go mow the yard.

I lied.  There is one more thing.  You are loved!

I'm pooped!

There's something amazingly satisfying about being physically exhausted!  For the years I worked, I would often come home wondering where I would find the where-with-all to make it up the stairs so I could collapse on the bed (idiot that I was, I could have stayed on the first floor and slept on the couch!). I really was that tired.  But it was a mental thing.  Oh sure, I put in the physical requirements, but the muscles didn't remind me that I had been physically absorbed.  Tonight they do!    After finishing the landscaping next door...at least for today, I promised myself that would be the last load of mulch I would haul for a while.  Promises are apparently made to be broken!  After being taken out to a rather disappointing Chinese supper (our local emporium needs a lot of work, both in the physical plant and in keeping food hot!), we swung by Wally World to check on possible rain stoppage material to stem the flow of wash in the hosta bed we have finished!  Low and behold, they had bags of mulch on sale (darn them) so 15 bags later, we get home and position the bags in a dam fine way!  We'll see if our ingenuity pays off.  Anyhow, once that was done, I found myself totally spent!  Now, it's time for Advil and dreams of what to do with this one remaining section...and please dear god, don't let it be mulch!  But I am NEVER too tired to let you know you are loved!

To my feet...

There is no doubt.  My feet are ugly!  They are a tad bit wide (okay, I've seen narrower feet on an elephant!), are rarely truly clean (can you say barefoot at EVERY opportunity...even mowing the lawn!), have ugly toenails that are never completely clean and at times could be considered lethal weapons, and are virtually impossible to comfortably clad.  But as the sun hit them this morning, I realized how lucky I am to have them and to have had the opportunity to go where they have taken me!  So I think I'll keep them.  For me, two feet have made a yard...to learn in, to love in, and to celebrate all things.  Deep, huh?  Know you are loved!