Woo-Woo Stuff - Call me Cornflower

 

10/7/14 - A discussion with friends earlier this week brought to mind this drawing given to me by a reader in the 90's. The reader said I was Cornflower from the Ute tribe in a previous life and this is the picture she drew.  The writing at the bottom reads: 
"I follow you, me, we are all part of grandfather Ute tribe, many times good, bad and wonderful.  Now I teach you what I failed to learn about life. Yes, oh, we are dancers."

The discussion that prompted this posting happened when my friend recounted her dream of being given the name "Country Mist" by a Native American during a dream.  Aren't dreams fun!

About 10 years ago, I also encountered a Native American Chief during a meditation/shamanic journey to the upper world.  My vision took place while walking along what appeared to be the rim of a golden castle.  The path was gold, everything was gold until I saw this chief  in full regalia standing directly in front of me.  I waited, and waited for some info, acknowledgement, anything.  Finally, I burst out with "Why won't you talk to me?"  His reply, "There is wisdom in silence." 

I've never forgotten those words.  Sometimes I don't follow the advice or practice the silence (which I assume to be meditation).   I recognize the profoundness of that simple statement.  I was reminded of it again the other day when I saw this quote: You never learn anything while you are talking.

In addition to advice, I came away from that shamanic journey with the name of "Stands Tall" as my Indian Guide. 

As far as Cornflower, well I loved Utah (a home of the Utes) when I visited, long to go back. Herbs are also a passion of mine.  The note below says the genus is drived from the Centaur, Chiron , who taught mankind the healing virtue of herbs.  Further note on Cornflower from Botanical.com :

Centaurea Cyanus, the Cornflower, with its star-like blossoms of brilliant blue, is one of our most striking wild-flowers, though it is always looked on as an unwelcome weed by the farmer, for not only does it by its presence withdraw nourishment from the ground that is needed for the corn, 'but its tough stems in former days of hand-reaping were wont to blunt the reaper's sickle, earning it the name of 'Hurt Sickle':
    

'Thou blunt'st the very reaper's sickle and so

In life and death becom'st the farmer's foe.'

 

The Latin name, Cyanus, was given the Cornflower after a youthful devotee of the goddess Flora (Cyanus), whose favourite flower it was, and the name of the genus is derived from the Centaur, Chiron, who taught mankind the healing virtue of herbs.
It has long been cultivated as a garden plant, in several colours as well as white. C. montana, a perennial form, is frequent in gardens.

Morning with JM and the Super Cake

10/6/14 - I got a text this morning before daylight wanting to know if I had a cake stand.  It was from my son who arrived shortly after that with three layers of chocolate cake and  a pan of chocolate frosting.  He had made a cake for his girlfriend's daughter and was wanting a cake stand to put it on. 

After accessing the situation he decided more icing was needed so he proceeded to make a double batch of butter cream frosting. This took a whole 2# bag of powdered sugar.  He put the chocolate frosting between the three layers, and added the white buttercream for sides and top.  Here is John Michael adding the beginning of the decorations.  I don't have a picture of the completed cake........which I hope he was able to transport back to his place in one piece.  I am sure he will post a picture or two to his Facebook page.


I did learn something about JM this morning.  I've always known he likes to cook and thinks it is all easy, afraid to tackle nothing.  He even talked about making his own yeast!  I don't think he does this but I know he has gone to making his own pizza dough for his pizza place. Oh, what I learned.....
John has always loved basketball and was in sports at his high school - knew that BUT  I guess he also was in Home Ec class in High School with the girls and beat them all 2 Times in a cake decorating contest! 

 

10/5/14 - Happy to say the book at the right will soon belong to someone else.  It is currently on EBay with a paltry bid of 99 cents.  (It could go higher; will update on that later.)  I personally believe this book was way too much about Doreen Virtue. To be fair, I should have expected that.  Read this synopsis :

Healing with the Fairies Tells the author's personal story of how the fairies helped her deal with a divorce and prepare for a spiritually based relationship.

Just saying I don't mind letting this "fluffy" book go.  Then, when I happened across her bio..........well, she has been married and divorced 4 times!  With direct information from communication with the fairies AND three university degrees in  counseling psychology, you would think she would be a little more skilled with relationships or wise enough not to even attempt one. 

I have been mulling around the idea of joining the Central Indiana Herb Society.  They are having a meeting open to the public tomorrow.  I plan to attend to see what I think of the group.  I follow them on FB and often see some info on identifying herbs and wildflowers - a subject the definitely interests me.  Here is the meeting info and location:

6:45pm: Fall Education Night / PUBLIC ESPECIALLY INVITED

6:45 Monday, October 6th, John Hensel Gov. Center, 10701 N. College Ave.
Members will present “Pumpkin.... an Herb?”. Includes culinary uses of pumpkins, “Pumpkins Here, Pumpkins There,
Pumpkins Everywhere”, history, medicinal uses, and hands-on pumpkin crafts to take home. Delicious treats will
include pumpkin! Free and open to the public. Contact (317) 251-6986

Example of how things change.

10/3/14 -  I wasted most of this morning sorting old post cards by state, foreign country, comic, folders, greeting card, etc.  I have sold a few but I doubt if any are of real value.  One that made me feel a little sad was a souvenir folder of Detroit Michigan. Below is Ford Motor Company Building with 25,000 Employees.  The inside of the folder reads: " Detroit is the first city in the manufacture of Automobiles, Automobile parts, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Overalls, Stoves and Varnishes.  One Automobile Factory at the present time occupies 7,000,000 square feet of factory and office floor space, giving employment to over 43,000 men.  When additions now in  course of erection are completed, floor space and number of employees will be doubled.

Present population 800,000.

Modestly shares with Washington, D.C. the honors of being the most beautiful city in America."


"The Latch String Hangs Out"

The old cars featured on some of the post cards and mention of Michigan Central Station as "new"  in this folder suggest post card folder is from approx 1913.

 

 
 
 

Using paint from the recycle store

10/2/14 - Last month I stopped in the recycle store and found a couple quarts of exterior paint.  The first can I opened was grey.  I painted the blocks out by the barn. I really should paint the bottom row too but I barely had enough to cover what I did.  I think I will stop out there for now.

The next can had the mauve color I have put on the arms and bottoms of these old chairs.  I really like the yellow color but.................... I had one more quart of paint.  It is a bright red, oil based paint.  I have given the chairs one coat, not shown here because right now they look awful!

I hope to give them one more coat tomorrow with better results.  The paint stayed sticky for a long time, has brush strokes, looks awful with the mauve colored arms - all in all kind of a mess. Will update tomorrow.

I have been trying to get the yard in shape for winter.  Pulling the dead plants, picking the last of the tomatoes, bringing in the ferns, houseplants, etc.  It is hard to believe cold weather will be on us soon!  I heard an awful lot of walnuts falling this afternoon so I may not be mowing anymore - too hard on the blades.  I should put the rotary mower on and make a good swipe back down the lane.

Here is my version of a bottle tree. I am tired of whatever kind of bush this is so I have cut the limbs and leaves off a couple times this year and added bottles.  No fancy store bought decorative bottles here.  This one contains some old bleach bottles, lemon bottles, ketchup bottle, Vicks jar, water bottles, and even a wine bottle or two. : )  


The newly painted chairs are below.  Not that happy with the outcome but maybe next year I will paint the arms and base a more compatible color. Main thing accomplished, they are preserved.

Miracle Lasagna

Prep Time: 5 minutes, Bake Time: 1 Hour, Stand Time: 5 Minutes

v    1 jar (1# 10 oz) Prego Traditional or Prego Tomato Basil & Garlic Sauce  ($2.29)

v    6 uncooked lasagna noodles ($1 pkg)

v    1-15 oz container ricotta cheese  ($2.69)

v    2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)  ($2.50)

v    ¼ cup grated Parmesan Cheese  (on hand)

 

Spread about 1 cup pasta sauce in 2-quart shallow baking dish (11X7-inch).  Top with 3 uncooked noodles, ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and 1 cup pasta sauce.  Top with remaining 3 uncooked noodles and remaining pasta sauce.  Cover.

Bake at 375 degree F. for 1 hour.  Uncover and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.  Let stand 5 minutes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 It cost me about $8.50 for the Lasagna ingredients, $3 for a small loaf on Asiago Cheese Bread from Panerra, and another $3 for hamburger that I made into meatballs to accompany this meal – a total of $14.50………….two of us made a big meal and had some leftover snacks the next day, so say 4 meals from this investment.   I am just trying to decide if cooking is worth it.  Hmmmm. 

 

 

 

I do get tired of the fast food establishments on our main strip:  Wendy’s, Burger King, Arby’s, Taco Bell – so, every once in awhile I will continue to put on the apron and mix up a home-cooked meal.

Note:  Next time instead of making meatballs separate, I will just season and cook some hamburger, drain and add the crumbles to it as one of the layers. 

 

 

Hood Ornament and a People "Piece of Work"

 

 

 

On Saturday, 9/27/14, Randy and I attended a couple car shows: James Dean Festival at Fairmount Indiana and the Duck-Tail Hot Rod Run at Gas City, Indiana.  There were lots of beautiful autos - old, new, rods and one-of-a-kind collector cars.  It was a fun outing but the only picture I had on my phone was this creative "hood ornament".  Have I ever mentioned the first car I ever bought on my own was an Orange Gremlin!  I guess I don't have the best taste in cars.

I had to add a couple pictures of another guy we saw at the Ducktail Run in Gas City.  He was quite the sight as was his Winnebago Family Truckster.  If you want to see more of  this piece of work, he has a Facebook Page entitled Winnebago Family Truckster.  Search him from your Facebook page. : )