Hello my friends! This week has been positive in many ways. Thank you for thinking about me! I've been 'offline' for forums and surfing alot for quilt ideas, christmas crafts and just mentally 'colouring with my crayons'. My dear great aunt told me I look fat (she does everytime I see her and it's funny actually - she's 96 so I give her lots of allowances for quirkieness). A young doctor came and was very unsuccessful trying to make a mold - geez at her age her jaw continues to shrink down, skin grows over. Now I have to call and arrange to have the senior doctor come and try again to make a mold. She has her lower teeth - I thought they were lost - but they are loose. It has literally been 5 months since I have seen her. I don't know where time flies to but it flies some times. Seeing her makes me feel closer to my Mom, in bloodline only. Mary is a sweet old gal. I should see her more often and I think I have been afraid to get close because over the years, as a great aunt, I've not really been a major part of her life. I would normally see her once or twice a year while growing up. She has another nephew - my uncle - he is extremely unwell and has never bothered with her at all. At any rate, I should pop in to see her a little more often. One day she will be gone and then it will be too late. Mary has made us family quilts, baked for us and carried on old family traditions because that is the life she knew. We talked about canning preserves on my last visit and gardening. Most of her 'marbles' are still with her at 96 - I should be blessed to do so well at that age. Yesterday I had 2 bank appointments for my Mom's estate with my sister that I don't get on with. I have been learning and working on 4 things: don't take it personally don't assume be impeccable with your word do your best By learning not to assume I did not toss and turn all night worrying about what my sister might have to say during our bank appointments. She is not speaking to me and is in her own world. Too bad. I keep trying to be polite but I get short, rude answers. Her body language still exudes anger, superiority (I think) and negativity. I feel sorry for her. When we left the bank she did not thank the person nor shake their hand - just left. I was embarrassed by her behaviour given she is now a 'director' in our federal government. My parents never taught her manners such as this. The banking officer appeared nervous - maybe because my sister was so short with her answers, seldom smiling and just needing a slap up the head at 46! I shook their hand, thanked them and smiled - I also rolled my eyes at one point. Couldn't help that. Unreal. So I continue to try to be a better person. I don't have to worry about letting go of her in my life because she is shutting out the communication unless necessary. Ah well, that is her journey. I hope she finds happiness somewhere. Today I'm sitting in bed - clothing all over the bedroom. Pulling out summer clothing for laundry and packing and restoring my fall/winter wardrobe. Fall cleansing and watching my dvd set of The Pallisers (Masterpiece Theatre). I love the period costumes and saga. One day I hope to purchase the north american region of The Duchess of Duke Street. I have the UK and can watch it on my laptop but it's not the same as TV. Also I have homework from my shrink - complete a quiz on depression (I'm feeling more and more positive about life again) and think about what I would like to get out of my future visits together. I've lucked in meeting a doctor who finally makes me feel comfortable. So, if I can sort a few things out in my head - one day, one step at a time, I am hoping to return in the right frame of mind for my fall/winter dietary clean-up. I've gained about 8 pounds but that's fine. It will come off when I'm ready to take more care. Anyhow, I should get going - I can't see my bed right now for clothing and I should get laundry going. Sunday is our cheapest rate day for electricity - laundry. Will catch up on the posts later! LOL to all my pals, Peggy

This is the Corn Casserole that I make. I cut the recipe in half for the 2 of us and there are still leftovers, the full recipe makes a 9x13 size. Corn Casserole (Jude, a member of KT, who hasn't posted in a while) 1/4 cup sugar 3 tbsp flour 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp salt 6 eggs 2 cups cream or half and half 1/2 cup butter, melted (use butter, not margarine) 6 cups frozen corn, thawed (it must be thawed) Combine dry ingredients. Beat eggs with a fork in a large bowl. Stir in cream and melted butter. Gradually add dry ingredients, stirring until smooth. Stir in corn. Pour into lightly greased 9x13" baking dish and bake at 350 oven 45 minutes or so until deep golden brown and the mixture is set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

First time trying this one today: Beef ribs Rub down with your favorite rub. (I just sprinkle generously with seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder) Wrap tightly in foil and refrigerate over night. Bring to room temperature. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cook for 4 (?) hours (in the foil). Turn on broiler. Drizzle ribs with olive oil and char for about two minutes per side. *** Hubby loves this recipe: Mustard Short Ribs 4 lbs. beef short ribs 1/3 C prepared mustard 1 TB sugar 2 TB lemon juice 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 2 cloves garlic, crushed 4 medium onions, sliced Place beef ribs in shallow glass dish. Mix mustard, sugar, lemon juice, salt, pepper & garlic; spread over beef. Top with onions. Cover and refrigerate, turning beef occasionally, about 24 hours. Brown ribs on the stove. Place ribs in casserole dish or Dutch oven and pour in marinade and onions. Cover and bake in 325 oven about 3-1/2 to 4 hours. *** This is the one I usually use: Braised Short Ribs 2 lbs beef short ribs 1 large clove of garlic, cut in half 1/4 cup flour 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 tbls paprika 1/4 cup oil 1 (28 oz) can tomatoes 1 cup hot water 1 large carrot, peeled and diced 1 medium onion 1 small bay leaf Cut between the ribs and trim excess fat. Rub with garlic. Combine flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a dish. Roll ribs in mixture. Heat oil in heavy saucepan that can be put in the oven. Add ribs and brown well on all sides. Lift out pieces as they are browned. Drain all except 2 tbsp fat from the pan. Sprinkle in any remaining flour mixture and let bubble, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add tomatoes and hot water all at once, stirring to blend. Return to heat and bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Add carrot, onion, bay leaf and ribs. Cover tightly and bake at 325 degrees for about 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours or until meat is tender.

rhizo_1 we are grain farmers and right now we're combining corn (soybeans are done). We have 6 full-time employees, 1 part-time and then my husband and son. Evening meals get delivered to the field each night about 6pm. I start cooking at 4pm. I pack each persons meal in a carryout container, then pack them in 2 thermal carriers which then fit in a rubbermaid tote. Also take bottled water. The challenging part is finding everyone since truck (semi) drivers are on the road back and forth to the bin site. The combine and grain cart drivers are easy to find in the field. But sometimes the field is up to 30 miles away so keeping things hot is a challenge. Fortunately it's only 5-6 weeks of meals, 5 or 6 nights a week. We live near a very small town, but one night a week I can get a meal from our local grocer, or I can drive 14 miles to pick up Subway sandwiches or pizza if I'm not able to cook that night. Next week after the time change delivering meals won't be as much fun because it will be dark by 6pm and then it's more challenging finding everyone.