My Zest for Zucchini

This is my zucchini plant from last year.

I love zucchini.

I miss zucchini.

I can't wait til I can plant my zucchini this year.

Store bought isn't the same.

Who knows when it was picked and so far I have not found any organic zucchini near me and since some zucchini is GMO and it is not labeled, I choose to wait for my garden zucchini.

Last year a squirrel munched on all my plants.

I had to go buy some replacement plants.

Darn squirrel!

You normally think of bunnies or deer in the garden.

But, no!

It was a squirrel.

We had to buy some squirrel corn to feed it in the spring.

Just so it would leave my plants alone.

Combines don't miss as much field corn as they used to.

What kind of crap is that?

In the past, we'd just walk the fields after harvest and get buckets of the stuff.

I guess when you pay a few hundred thousand dollars MORE for something, it is a better product.

Who knew?

Anyway, back to zucchini-

I do everything with zucchini.

Let me rephrase that, Al Penwasser.

I cook zucchini in every way possible.

I use it in pizza crust, double chocolate zucchini bread, sauteed, grilled and the list goes on and on and on and...

You get the idea.

My parents never grew zucchini when I grew up.

Mom didn't like it so I never got a chance to know it.

I guess I am making up for all those years I didn't get to eat my beloved zucchini.

Now, they grow it to sell at the farmer's market.

I'd like to thank anyone that has started following or gave my little blog a chance with a read.

It is much appreciated.

Happy A-Z!

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Last year's Z- Zero and Zilch With a Side of Peppers and Petty

Almost But Not Yet

It always seems like we are waiting for something.

Are we there yet? Oh hush!

Is supper ready? Not yet.

Is there enough money? Not yet, maybe next month.

Am I ever gonna get out of debt? Not yet, maybe not ever.

Have garage sales started yet? No, it is still too cold.

Can I plant my peppers and tomatoes? No, not yet. Just wait!

Can I have some cookies? Not yet, we just ate.

Instead of wishing for what is yet to come, we should try to be content with what we do have right now.
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Last year's Y- Pimpin' the Yummy

Everything Xanadu

I bet you thought Xanadu was just a movie.
Not so!

All thing Xanadu:
Well, that I could find using one search engine.

Rush performing Xanadu in 1977.


Xanadu Island Resort
It's eco-friendly and in the Caribbean.

Xanadu Australia
A cyber way of storing information. Check it out. You may understand better than me.

Project Xanadu
The original hypertext project. Sounds similar to Xanadu Australia.

Not only was Xanadu a film, it was a musical and a song and it's on Broadway.

It was also the summer capital of Kublai Khan's Yuan Dynasty.
It was originally named Kaiping.

Electric Light Orchestra(aka ELO) performed Xanadu with Olivia Newton John
 
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Last year's X- Me and My X-ray

Wheat? No, Thank You

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you may have read about my wheat free experiment.
If you haven't, I am not eating wheat.

Or staying away as much as possible.

Those marketers and their sneaky ingredient wording can trip a person up.

So far, it has been going well.
Until, I realize I can't eat a food I saw on a blog.

Ritz cracker cookies.
Yesterday there was a picture in my reader.
Oh, man!
I love those things!

But, I am trying to see if I feel better.
So far, I do.
My muscles don't so get sore after I do exercise or work in the garden.

Right now, I am not eating gluten.
Only because wheat was about my only source of gluten.

I am learning how to cook without wheat.
Trial and error and lots of it.

I have successfully made pizza crust and rhubarb crisp.
Some cookies- eh.
Those could use some work.

I can still make my wheat flour recipes for yummy stuff.
I just can't eat them.
I get awesome feedback from the wheat eaters.
And I used to eat them.
I just can't now. OK, I could. But, I'm not gonna.

From what I read, it takes 6-9 months to get it all out of a person's system.
After that, I am reevaluating.

Until that time, I will be enjoying my multi-grain wheat free crackers.

They are actually quite good.

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Last year's W- Hi, My Name is Ruth and I am a Washer

I Like Violets

In fact, they are my favorite flower.

Sometimes, I will find a white violet.

That sounds strange.

A violet should be, well, violet.

That is just how it is.

But, white ones are nice too.

Violets can also give you an indication of the type of soil you have.

If you have violets growing, you have neutral soil.

Not too acidic and not too alkaline.

Just right.

Yes, I really like violets.

Except,

When they are growing in my strawberry bed. Then, they gotta go!

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Last year's V- The Vegetable Tales

Uh and Um

I hate uh and um.
If you are saying
Ummmmm, like this food is so good I can't stop eating and can only say ummmmm, that's OK.

It is not OK to say Uh OR Um when you can't think of a word.

If I were to start a drinking game and the word would be "uh"
I'd be drunk every time I turned the TV on.

"Um" is a close second.

When I was a kid, you couldn't say either one in school.
You got told to speak right.

So, why is it OK now?

I don't let my daughter say them.
Or, I didn't when she was little.
So, she doesn't now.

Now, celebrities on talk shows do.
Secretaries of State do. Hilary, would you please get speaking lessons from Bill?
Presidents that use teleprompters do. Past and present, to be fair.

Seriously, how can you lose your train of thought when you are reading off a screen?
Are you stupid?
Maybe that's a "stupid" question.

Either think things through before opening your mouth or stop a second til you get the word you want.
That's all anyone has to do.
Is that so hard?

Especially for those that make their money by the spoken word.

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Last year's U- Play Me Some Ukulele

It's a Terrible Tragedy

It's just terrible.
I am in trouble, terrific people.
I have no T word today.
No thought of T words are traveling through this head.

I got nothin'!

I thought, I could just wait and wait and something will make itself known.
But, alas, I can wait no more.

Technically, I have 9-1/2 hours to avert this terrible tragedy.
But, I have things to do.

Like take out the trash.
Wrapper from chicken it it and the odor is becoming unpleasant.

So, I am just going to say Ta Ta for now.

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Last year's T- Towns Across Iowa
Saturday I forgot to post last year's S- I Saw The Sign

S is for Poo

Did you know that some people don't sh, uh I mean, poo?
I am not sure if it's a fad or part of a larger movement.

People are just choosing not to poo.
It is actually called the "no-poo movement".

Poo is not good for you.
Or so these non-pooers say.

And not pooing makes the environment down the drain less toxic.

Just use baking soda and vinegar and the need of poo is gone.

Sure at first you will be all gross.
But that goes away.
Just think how much you will be doing your part to better your life and aquatic animals everywhere.


If you would like more information on living SHAMPOO free, go to How to Quit Shampoo Without Becoming Disgusting.

That's Rad

No, not the movie about BMX bike racing.

I am talking totally radical, dude!

Radical is the best.
The greatest.
The most coolest thing ever.

But, stop!
Make it even COOLER.

Just say rad.

That's it.
We all know it means awesome. Just in a more laid-back way.

Oh, wait.
You mean you don't live in California OR grew up in the great 80's decade?

Let me back up.

In the 80's "radical" started to get used, mostly over along the west coast.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brought the shortened form "rad" nationwide.

So, rad is good.
It's super high praise.
When you have no other words.
"That's rad" will suffice.

He also says " That's rad."

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Last year's R- Red is Rad

I'm Quirky and I Know It

My daughter calls me odd.
I prefer QUIRKY.

QUIRKY is a fun word.
It describes me perfectly.

I quote movies. When it fits the moment.

I laugh at the news. And not the fluff pieces you are supposed to. Sometimes the wording is just funny/stupid.

I have lightning fast mood changes. I go from "That's so funny!" to "That's so not funny." You could say it's hormonal. Maybe it is the fact I am a redhead or a Scorpio. But, who knows? I call it part of my charm.
My quirkiness, if you will.

If I can find out how to make something myself, I will do so. Even if I could buy it at the store.
My yogurt making experiment did not work out so well. But I make awesome chocolate pudding!
Next project- my own laundry detergent. I will be ready for the apocalypse!

We have a riding lawn mower. We need one for our 4 acres. I'd still rather push mow. I actually find it strangely satisfying, albeit a little noisy.

A lot of people really don't seem to understand my humor. Honeyman says it's too intelligent for them.
So, if you get my humor- congratulations, you are one of the smart ones.

I think everyone has their own little quirks. That is what makes us unique.
What makes you quirky?

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Last year's Q- Q on Cue

I Poke Thee!

Poke means different things to different people.

Now, it is something you do on Facebook.
You click the little poke button to say " Hey, I am here!"
If you are lucky, you get to have poking wars with someone special.

Do you remember the miniseries " Lonesome Dove"?
A poke was about having a good time *wink, wink* with a person of the opposite sex.

When you are talking about a poke cake, you are talking about using a wooden spoon handle to push(or poke) holes in the cake and than you pour glaze, jello, or pudding over the cake and some of it runs down into the holes.
I really like the pudding kind. Ummmm...

Now,where was I?

Oh yeah, the different kinds of pokes.

There is the "pig in a poke".
In this case the poke is a bag or sack. Don't buy the poke until you have seen the pig in it. Cause it might not be a pig, but a cat. And by checking, you could let the cat out of the bag. The jig is up!

Poke is a raw fish salad in Hawaii.

A slow poke is someone that is slow.
Or it is the name of a song.
Or it's a pokeman.
Or if you take off the w in slow it's a caramel sucker.

Lastly, we have the poke I know and love. You walk up to someone with a stick or finger and you push on the other person with it. The other person may or may not get annoyed with you. Do this at your own risk.

This concludes your poking lesson for the day.

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Last year's P- Pondering the Demise of the Pom-Pom

Ten Things Tuesday- Opinions

I thought this week's Ten Things Tuesday could center around the opinion.

Not my opinions on things, but sayings or quotes about opinions.

1. And your cry-baby whiny-a**ed opinion would be...
  I have a t-shirt that says this. Don't whine ALL the time. We all know these people.

2. Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.
Isn't that the truth? If you don't have one, you need to see a doctor. In either case.

3. Just because you have an opinion, that doesn't make it right.
That is why it is called an opinion and not a fact. Lots of people confuse the two all the time.

4. " Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself secure."- Bertrand Russell
In a nutshell, this is why governments crack down on their people.

5. " There is no such thing as public opinion, only published opinion." Winston Churchill
    How true. All we know about how popular something is, is from the news.

6. " Too often we...enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." John F. Kennedy
I think he was saying we don't always think things through like we should.

7. " The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge." Elbert Hubbard
Learning is a good thing and it's OK to change your mind.

8. " If you consult enough experts, you can confirm any opinion."- unknown
That's like 4 out of 5 dentists surveyed. They never said how many they asked. They just chose the ones that answered how they wanted.


9. " It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains in a different opinion." W.R. Inge quotes
I think Congress and legislatures everywhere should listen to this one.

10. " I must respect the opinions of others even if I disagree with them." Herbert Henry Lehman
This is the way it should be.
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Last year's O- Ode to an Outhouse

Never Say Never!

People always say they'd never do something
But when it comes down to it
we don't really know.

Circumstances dictate a lot.
Age plays a part.
Realizing that others are more worried about themselves than what you are wearing plays a part.

When I grew up, I said I would never grow a garden.
I hated all the work.

The weeding
The picking potato bugs off the potato plants.(Where'd they all go? There were tons and now I never see them.)
The hauling all those potatoes down to the basement.

Look at me now!
Huge garden.
I get all excited when spring comes and I can plant.

I also said, I would never live in a small town.
I don't.
But, I am close.
Out in the country- by a small town.

Even the big stuff
we can never say never.

We can say we could never kill.
But, if it is down to you or them you can't be sure what you would do.
Same thing if it is someone you loved.

If you were starving, you'd eat that bunny.
You could say you wouldn't.
Especially if you don't eat meat.
But, if you are starving and your mind starts to go into "Food, food, food!" mode you probably would.

Than again, you might not.

You never know.  
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Last year's N- Naps are My Friends

More, Moore, and Mooer

My maiden name is Moore.
When I was little, I didn't like my name.
First or last.

Ruth is an old lady name.
Oh, yes it is.
Come to Iowa and you will see what I mean.

Moore is just a boring name.
It is spelled different in the dictionary, but it sounds the same.
It means additional.
People say it all the time.

Now that I think about it,
are there any cool last names?
I didn't know when I was little.
I just knew mine wasn't.

When I was in first grade, the other kids in my class told me I spelled my name wrong.
It was supposed to be More.
Hello! It's a name. It is spelled how it is spelled. They didn't believe me.

Moore is supposed to be a common last name.
I didn't hear it much.

So, I went all the way through the school years with my boring name in a boring town.
But, everyone pronounced my name right.

Then I entered college.
My Sociology professor had an interesting way of pronouncing my name.
I really don't know where he came up with it.

He pronounced it Mooer.
Now, doesn't that sound like something that a cow does?
One who moos is a mooer.
What moos?
A cow.

Thanks for calling me a cow, Mr. Whatever Your Name Was.

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Last year's M- Mmmmm- Morels

Look Alikes?- 4/13/12

 <- Britney Spears


  Martian dude -> dressed as a lady in "Mars Attacks"








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Last year's L-  Living Life

Oh Man, It's Kool-Aid

No wait, it's the Kool-aid man!

Who didn't grow up with Kool-aid?

The drink all kids knew and loved.

Open a packet or plastic funny shaped container, pour it in a pitcher, and add water and/or sugar.

Easy peasy!

And so good.

Of course, Mom never used the full amount of sugar the directions called for. She thought it was much too sweet.

But, she never used the full amount of chocolate chips in the cookies either. That was also too much.

Yes, life was rough.

Kool-aid started out with the normal flavors.

Lime, cherry, strawberry, grape, lemonade, black cherry(my personal favorite).

Next came pink lemonade.

Followed by fruit punch.

Sometime in the 90's or late 80's they started selling the funky little bottles of prepackaged Kool-aid.

They were supposed to be convenient to take with you- on the go.

Problem was, the top didn't always want to just twist off.

Make sure you have scissors handy- on the go.

Around that same time, you got the funky flavors.

Strawberry-kiwi, raspberry lemonade, berry flavor, strawberry lemonade, and the flavors that look like one flavor, but taste like another.

Just try and find the NORMAL flavors.

It is not easy to do.

When I grew up, all the neighborhood kids used to come over to play and we went through so much Kool-aid.

When we went down to Grandma M.'s, we had Kool-aid to drink. Made in a metal pitcher and drank out of metal glasses, it tasted a little different.

When we went to Grandma B.'s  we got Kool-aid. She always made it in a certain glass pitcher. It was known as the Kool-aid pitcher.

I think I drank more Kool-aid than anything else.

How bout you?

Did you grow up drinking Kool-aid?

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Last year's K- My Kid- The One and Only

Feeling Justified

I had it all thought out when I was trying to get to sleep last night.
Just joshin' would be my post for today.

I got up today and that didn't suit my mood so I just can't justify writing a silly post when I am just not feeling it.

I am not in a happy mood.
If you have been reading my stuff for a while, you know my daughter has been going through some medical problems.
Finally thought we were getting somewhere.
But, now the medication is causing other problems on top of the problems she already has.

I have already taken her to 2 different doctors AND the ER.

I don't believe in most of the modern day medical/pharmacy establishment.
"Here, take a pill and you'll be fine."

I feel justified when I say this because this latest doctor won't take her off the medication OR change it.
Wants to send her to her primary doctor so they can medicate her even further.

Our insurance won't pay for alternative medicine.
Sometimes I am really glad I live in Iowa.

I feel justified in being a little upset with my insurance company.

So, now I have to figure out what I am going to do.
Definitely take her off that medication and choose another doctor.
Again!

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Last year's J- Just a Thought

Ten Things Tuesday- Instantly

Why do some things always go together?
Sometimes both are good
sometimes it's a mix.

This week's Ten Things Tuesday is about when one thing happens, instantly something else does .

1. Payday
  You realize that as soon as you have your check, it's already spent. On bills.

2. Looking for something
   You are looking for someone's phone number. In the same instant, you realize you put it up so you would never lose it. If only you knew where that was.

3. Eating that second HUGE slice of yummy peanut butter brownie cheesecake
   Instantly you realize that you should not be eating another piece. No matter how good it tastes. You'll pay for it later. But, that's later and you eat it anyway.


 4. You get some extra money from somewhere or someone
   You realize,WOOHOO!, you can buy socks. Or something equally satisfying.

5. Painting
   Instantly you realize that you really should have put on your grubbies instead just wearing what you already have on.

6. Waking up early
   You wake up on a day where there is no school and no where to be. You just wake up, look at the clock and think " Holy crap, I'm late". Instantly awake, you drag yourself out of bed and leave the room. Once you are up, you realize you don't have to get up today.

7. Getting overtime
   Overtime sucks. You have to be at work longer. Who likes that? When it comes though, you instantly recognize extra moolah comin' your way.

8. Mealtimes
   You go in the kitchen to fix a meal for everyone, at the time knowing you have no clue what you are going to make.

9. Winner
  Does anyone really become a winner instantly of a BIG cash prize? They are always $5 or $10 tops. I know I won a sweepstakes once, but that wasn't an instant winner thing.

10. Children
     If you have children or nieces or nephews, I am sure you can agree. When another kid does something to them, like pick on or hit and you instantly dislike that kid. Completely. It can be years later and they get along fine. You still don't like him/her.


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Last year's I- In an Instant

How

How - A one word question.
      
How- A wording meaning to explain the way that something works.

How- A word meaning to what extent or degree.

How- A greeting from the American Indian to others, namely white people. They'd ride up to you on their horse, raise their right hand and say, "How."

                            I found this pic on buzzfeed.
I tried, but could not find a picture of an American Indian doing this so you get a picture of Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger.

And I know they are not called American Indians anymore. It's Native Americans. But, they did the "How" in movies and TV and at the time they were still called Indians.

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Last year's H- Hmmmmm........

It's All Good!

Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.

Good day.
Good night.
Good-bye.

For Goodness sakes!
Goodness only knows.
Oh, Goodness!

That's Good food.
Have a Good sleep.
Have a Good bath.

Good times!

Yes, it's all good.
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Last year's G-  That Certainly Was Gratifying

Feeling Not So Funky?

I may have just what you need. For all that ails you:

For more information please visit fukitol.com.

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Last year's F- Fairly Frugal

The Excellent Post

With a title like that, it has to be "excellent" right?

I THINK SO!

Excellent started out as just an adjective.
Something simple.
It was part of a sentence to describe something else.

In the 80s,(my era, thank you very much) Excellent! as the total sentence came to be.

Bill & Ted had what kind of adventure?
Excellent!
That's right.

Throughout the 90s it endured.

Wayne and Garth not only partied on, but did it in an "Excellent!" way.
If it is totally great-in a "Most excellent!" way.

To this day, Mr. Burns from "The Simpson's" says "Excellent" with his fingers linked all creepy like.

Now, where am I going with this?
I really don't know.

Excellent is my word and I am sticking with it.

Now, go out and have a most excellent day!

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Last year's E-  Experiencing Evil

Divided

So often, I feel divided.

Should I do this or do that?

I had trouble with this post because I couldn't decide what to write about.

I got good feedback on my A post, maybe I should do that again.

Maybe I need to make a funny post. On what? Dingleberries?
By the way- did you know there was a place called Dingleberry Farms? Check it out.

Should I talk about dreams? I don't remember mine so that might make for a short post.

I was all over the map.

So, divided.

This blog has always been about what I feel like writing at the time.
What ever pops in my head is what I write about.

That's why I didn't plan much a head of time.

Maybe I should have.
I'm still divided about doing that too.

Yummy Stuff(my other blog) is planned and this is not.
I guess that way I get to play both sides of the fence.
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Last year's D- Do You?

Ten Things Tuesday- Countdowns

I do a fairly regular thing on this blog called Ten Things Tuesday.

I come up with a theme and 10 things about it.
They are not a top ten. I just write them down in the order they come to mind.

It's not the shortest post.

So, this week's Ten Things Tuesday  is on countdowns

1. The numbers go down
  This is the normal countdown. Starts at 10 and countdown to 0 and than "Blast-off"

2.The numbers go up
  It still is a count DOWN, but you don't go until the top number is called 1, 2, 3, Go.

3. The parental countdown
   This also goes for babysitters and grandparents. You also count upwards. You pick any number and tell the child that they have until the count of __ to do something or they will get a punishment. Than, you start counting slowly to give them time and to avoid giving the punishment you may start counting in half numbers. Ex 3, 3-1/2, and 4. Most times in the midst of the last time the child will frantically get up and do what they were supposed to do.

4. The race countdown
   No numbers are involved. But there is a gun and possibly a flag. Ready, set, go! Boom goes the gun and away you go.

5. Time to kick-off
   This involves tailgating, pregame, wondering if the game is ever gonna start, when the players run out onto the field, someone that may or may not sing the national anthem correctly, coin toss, and  FINALLY the whistle.

6.  The thunderstorm countdown
   As you are all aware, in order to figure out how close you are to the storm you must count the number of seconds between the lightning and the thunder. One Mississippi-two Mississippi= 2 miles. If it is almost instantaneous, the countdown is complete. The storm is here.

7. The meal countdown
   This is different for adults and children. " Can I have a snack?" "No it's too close to supper."
"How long til we eat?" With kids cut off time is 1-2 hours. With most men it's 15 minutes. Longer than that and they still eat.  

8. The Final Countdown


9. The calm down countdown
    This is usually an up type of countdown. By the time you have reached 10, you should be calm enough not to strangle anyone. If it is something really bad it may take going all the way up to 20.

10.  The summer's over countdown
   The countdown that all parents love and all the kids hate. It usually starts when you find out the date you get to register you kids for the new school year.

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Last year's C- Contemplating the Compliment

Blasphemy aka Funny Pic of The Day-4/2/12

 

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Last year's B post-  The One About the Birds

Athena and Arthur

Athena arrived at Atlanta's airport.

Arthur also arrived at Atlanta's airport.

Arthur approached Athena anxiously.

Athena accidentally apprehended Arthur's attache.

Athena apologized.

Arthur accepted.

Athena anxiously awaited Arthur's adulation.

Arthur anxiously asked Athena.

Athena acquiesced.

Athena and Arthur attended acrobatics.

Athena and Arthur affirmed attraction.


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Last year's letter A- Aqua, Aqua