Monday, July 6, 2009
He fought the law and the law won....
I have returned from the grocery store with ice. It is shaping up to be a hot day. The boy from Mississippi met up with me as I got out of the pickup and headed for the door. I asked what he was doing, and said that I thought he had a court appointment this morning. He told me he had already been to court. "Well, what happened?" "They said the minimum for running from the law was a year in county, and a $2500 fine, but they set another date in August. They appointed me a public 'offender' (his exact words) to help me out." "You mean you might have to go to jail for a year!" "Well, they didn't tell me I had to yet. They will tell me what is going to happen in August, and she is due just a few days after that." Yes, his girl friend is having their baby in August. "Dang! Oh well, things will get better. I promise." That kid didn't seem phased in the least about the prospects of sitting it out in the slammer for a year. He will probably be out shooting his paint ball gun again tonight. You know I think Mark Twain said something to the effect that teenagers ought to be put in a keg with the lid nailed shut, and they shouldn't get out until they are 25. I think he said it. If he didn't he should have! Sorry--no pictures. I guess I should have gone to the hearing and snapped a few. I am going to the bookstore.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Spare Me.....Please
I have been trying my best to wade through Waiting for Nick so I can get to the next section called Considering Kate, all by Nora Roberts, Alas, I just can't do it. I feel that I must surely be a backward bumpkin, because Miss Nora is a prolific writer, and she has a horde of enthusiastic followers who snap up every book that comes out, and who are standing on one foot and then the other waiting for the next sizzler. Forgive me, but I am quitting on page 84, and I am not normally a quitter, in fact perseverance is one of my gifts. These stories just don't feel real. I bought the book not knowing what Nora Roberts writes, so I am going to look for a good mystery that doesn't use four letter words, and is still a thriller (that will be a challenge). If I want romance, I will just log on a read one more episode of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Have a blessed Sunday.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Name your poison.
This one is especially for the Farmer who featured Tito, distilled in Sin City (Austin). Farmer, here is some genuine Kentucky 'shine. Tommy, one of the electricians on this compressor station job here, is from Kentucky, and has a friend, a third generation moonshiner, who produced this stuff. Tommy says there are three kinds of 'shine. One will cause you to walk up and slap Muhammad Ali; one is crying whiskey, and the other will make you sing. I will leave it to someone else to test this claim. Maybe I could take it to the Dutton Reunion for taste testing, and research purposes! That might be interesting, or how about setting up a lemonade stand on the south side of Billings? That might be better yet. Happy birthday America! Have a safe 4th of July.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
I HATE to throw good money after....
...bad coffee, and that is what happened when I went to Litchfield, Illinois today. They don't have many coffee shops around here, but this one had ESPRESSO on the outside, and that sounds like a place to buy a good cup of coffee. No dice. It was weak, and I would have rather had water. True coffee shops ought to have three strengths of coffee--strong, stronger, and strongest.
There wasn't much as far a shopping at Litchfield. Like West Texas, the jobs are going to the big cities and over seas. This used to be a big shoe factory. Thank goodness they are turning it into an apartment building; they are about 30 miles out of St. Louis, and there are people who live there and drive to St. Louis to work.
This was the prettiest building downtown, a flower shop that looked like it belonged in San Francisco.
There were some breathtaking houses at Litchfield. This is just one example.
Last of all--anyone interested in recycling their old jeans? This looks pretty shabby, but it really did look cute on. You can do it for less than the price tag of $90.
There wasn't much as far a shopping at Litchfield. Like West Texas, the jobs are going to the big cities and over seas. This used to be a big shoe factory. Thank goodness they are turning it into an apartment building; they are about 30 miles out of St. Louis, and there are people who live there and drive to St. Louis to work.
This was the prettiest building downtown, a flower shop that looked like it belonged in San Francisco.
There were some breathtaking houses at Litchfield. This is just one example.
Last of all--anyone interested in recycling their old jeans? This looks pretty shabby, but it really did look cute on. You can do it for less than the price tag of $90.
Illinois--where the governors make the license plates.
This was the best bumper sticker I saw in Springfield....and it looks like Blago may get a chance to learn the license plate business, because his trial is set for June 2010. Here is a short tour of the Illinois capitol building
When I was taking pictures of the capitol building, a man came along, and asked me if I could get it to smile for the picture. During the conversation he told me that there were a lot of stories about the capitol building, and one in particular claimed that the person who won the contract to build the thing immediately paid off the committee ,or whoever awarded him his the contract. The friendly person summed it up, "You know Illinois politics!" Of course, that bit of history wasn't in the official pamphlet I picked up when I went inside. I think all capitals are beautiful, and this one is no exception. Pictures just don't do it justice, but maybe you can get the idea.
The capitol was finally completed in 1888 for $4.3 million! Imagine that, and there was even $6.35 left over, and was handed back to the state treasury. It costs more than this to build a good school cafeteria today.
The dome was black with soot from all the gas lights they used, and in 1986 they cleaned it. That must have been fun since it is 92 feet in diameter and it looms above the 4th storie.
The inside is ornate with carved wood, wrought iron, granite, and beautiful pink marble (even on the banister for the main stairway).
The color of the marble is sort of a peach-pink, well, OK a tint of red orange. This is the bannister.
Ornate lamps, and beautiful chandeliers are everywhere. At one time they used to use gas lamps, which smoked everything up.
This is the door to the ladies room, very ornate, and of course, old, solid wood. No particle board here!
Brass door knobs with the state seal, which at first glance looked to me like the eagle and snake on the Mexican flag. All doors have these beautiful knobs.
Ornate painting on the walls.
Gold capital on the columns.
And last of all, the governor's office, where lots of wheeling and dealing takes place.
I have really enjoyed my visit to Illinois, and must confess that if someone had asked me to name a state I would like to visit, Illinois would not have been at the top of the list. Illinois just doesn't leap out at me like Texas, Montana, and Wyoming, which I think are so steeped in history and romance. I have learned that Illinois is packed with history, beauty, fantastic agriculture, and wild, under-the-table politics. I haven't been to Chicago, but it seems like a separate world from what I have seen. If you get a chance, come to Illinois, and be sure to go to the presidential library--good exhibits.
When I was taking pictures of the capitol building, a man came along, and asked me if I could get it to smile for the picture. During the conversation he told me that there were a lot of stories about the capitol building, and one in particular claimed that the person who won the contract to build the thing immediately paid off the committee ,or whoever awarded him his the contract. The friendly person summed it up, "You know Illinois politics!" Of course, that bit of history wasn't in the official pamphlet I picked up when I went inside. I think all capitals are beautiful, and this one is no exception. Pictures just don't do it justice, but maybe you can get the idea.
The capitol was finally completed in 1888 for $4.3 million! Imagine that, and there was even $6.35 left over, and was handed back to the state treasury. It costs more than this to build a good school cafeteria today.
The dome was black with soot from all the gas lights they used, and in 1986 they cleaned it. That must have been fun since it is 92 feet in diameter and it looms above the 4th storie.
The inside is ornate with carved wood, wrought iron, granite, and beautiful pink marble (even on the banister for the main stairway).
The color of the marble is sort of a peach-pink, well, OK a tint of red orange. This is the bannister.
Ornate lamps, and beautiful chandeliers are everywhere. At one time they used to use gas lamps, which smoked everything up.
This is the door to the ladies room, very ornate, and of course, old, solid wood. No particle board here!
Brass door knobs with the state seal, which at first glance looked to me like the eagle and snake on the Mexican flag. All doors have these beautiful knobs.
Ornate painting on the walls.
Gold capital on the columns.
And last of all, the governor's office, where lots of wheeling and dealing takes place.
I have really enjoyed my visit to Illinois, and must confess that if someone had asked me to name a state I would like to visit, Illinois would not have been at the top of the list. Illinois just doesn't leap out at me like Texas, Montana, and Wyoming, which I think are so steeped in history and romance. I have learned that Illinois is packed with history, beauty, fantastic agriculture, and wild, under-the-table politics. I haven't been to Chicago, but it seems like a separate world from what I have seen. If you get a chance, come to Illinois, and be sure to go to the presidential library--good exhibits.
You Might be a Red Neck if.....
...... you have a sign like this in your drive way! You guessed it--it's the youngsters in apt.#2. Nice petunias, though!I just want to brag about Illinois sweet corn. It's the best stuff you will ever put in your mouth, and I got lucky and found a mom and pop vendor beside CVS Pharmacy yesterday. Good squash, tomatoes, peppers, and corn.
Could this be a magnolia this far north? At first glance I thought it was, and wondered how it could be, so I circled the block, parked in the Edward Jones parking lot so I could go look. It was in their yard, but they were closed so I couldn't ask them about it, and they aren't open at 4:30 am. I will find out even if I have to go to the Extension Service.
This beautiful tree is in Taylorville, Illinois.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Peace and Applique
This quilt shop is one of the best ever, and it is nearly camouflaged among the old buildings on the historic street in Rochester. It has a tiny sign that says "Quilt Shop" on the porch so you have to be looking for it. There are three rooms packed with every type of quilt fabric imaginable, about 6000 bolts, they say. I bought some really loud batik to make a blouse and skirt--not a quilt. If you are interested in looking at the fabrics, log in at www.peacenapplique.com
If you are interested in gaudy jewelry log in on www.westernvr.com
I wanted to put some vintage patterns on here, but this computer is taking forever, and then declaring that it lost its signal. It is wearing me out. More later.
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