This poem is from River Country Basket Guild In North Carolina. When I read it, it made me laugh because once you take up basket making, this is what happens!

My Wife's a Basket Weaver
She learned to weave on Monday.
Her basket was quite fine.
She forgot to thaw out dinner,
So we went out to dine.

She made a twill on Tuesday.
She says they are a must.
They really look quite lovely,
But she forgot to dust.

On Wednesday it was wickerwork.
She says the twinings fun.
Three rod wale and braiding rims,
But the laundry wasn't done.

Her basket swap was Thursday.
"Expect her late" she said.
I guess she really was too busy,
Cause she never made the bed.

It was ribbed baskets Friday.
Using new techniques for sure.
But she never seemed to care about
Her mess still on the floor.

So I found a maid on Saturday.
My life is now complete.
My wife can weave for hours
And the house will still be neat.

Well, today is only Sunday.
And I'm already peeved.
I cursed and raved and ranted
Cause she taught the maid to weave.

Got up this morning to find the temperature in the lower 20's. When I went outside to feed SeeKitty, I looked down at her bowl of water and there was this upside down ice cycle sticking straight up out of her dish, defying the laws of gravity. Any suggestions as to how this is possible? 

November Rain

It is a frigid, damp cold rain coming down today. The kind of cold that seeps through the walls of the house, and rises up from the floor, making you wonder if you should put on another pair of socks, or just get in bed. The other alternative is riding the couch with your legs up in a fleece throw.

I feel bad for my cat, that she can't come in. I have too many birds. But she does have her wooden box that shelters her from the rain. I put a heating pad underneath the blankets, and am wondering if I turned it up too high. It's hard to tell since cats can't talk. I mean, I don't want her to overheat. Oh dear. 

  Quinoa Tabbouleh

This is a good recipe for those of you who can't eat wheat and miss the traditional tabbouleh. Red Quinoa goes really well in this dish. Remember to rinse the quinoa before cooking.

Cook quinoa: 2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa, and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, salt, lemon juice (use a whole lemon), tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, carrots (shredded), mint, and parsley. 

Then add the quinoa and mix well. Serve with rice crackers. It will taste good hot or cold.

More Disturbing Photos From the Thrift Stores:

  Now, at first glance, its a picture of a lady diver, but what are those things to her right? Why would anyone buy such a photo?

                                  Came around the corner, and encountered these dog slippers.

               And I just felt sorry for these penguins. They look like they're up on the auction block!

The Community Garden of Raymond

This past year, the mayor of our town, Isla Tullos, put together a community garden on the grounds of the old Co-op. Although I joined late in the year, there are still some great vegetables. The Okra plants are the size of small trees. Today, I started pulling up some of the 100 tomato plants, and picked at least 50 pounds of tomatoes which will be distributed throughout the town. Although these late tomatoes are still green, most southerners like fried green tomatoes. Wasn’t there a movie with that title?  Anyway, there are wonderful cabbages growing, and the greens are just great. I cooked some the other night. So if you’re driving by the garden, take a look at what a great job our mayor has done.

                                                            Bounty from the Garden

A Shooting!

We have 1 homeless person in Raymond, and although he probably could stay with his parents, he prefers to live outside. Some days, when he’s on medication, he seems calmer and more rational. Other days, he is so involved with the voices in his head, that he hardly notices anything else. He’s not dangerous though, to anyone else but himself.

Well, this morning, when Elaine and I were walking past the Quonset hut that’s diagonally across from the old Co-op, we saw a car in the driveway. We usually stop to feed Slim, the black cat who lives there. At first, Elaine suggested that he had an overnight guest, but when our homeless person got out of the car, he had a sling on his arm. And the older woman in the car turned out to be his mother. He told us that his mother’s husband shot him last night and he had just gotten back from the hospital. He was very proud that the bullet shattered his upper arm and shoulder. He said he may even have an operation. OMG! Now, I admit that it is very wrong to shoot someone, but sometimes the victim is so annoying, and so intense, that the only choice is to shoot him. Fortunately, most people control those types of urges. As we continued on our walk, we just shook our heads with wonder. Not much happens in Raymond, so this was the big event of the day.