I've had to create Another Blog

Since I cannot get any response from an actual human being at Google - or Blogger...

I have set up an entirely different blog.

The for my new blog is:

http://aminuteattatime.blogspot.com/

I could not be anymore unhappy at the moment

I have been trapped with a snag on this blog.  The Design section of my dashboard has TWO post areas stuck there and will NOT allow me to delete one of them.  Hence - my postings are being duplicated - despite the fact that I have designated 1 post at a time to be displayed on my blog now.

Well... I do get only 1 post.

I JUST GET TWO OF THEM - and it's really ... just... messing... with.... my.... hormones... right.... now.

One Bite at a Time

With the new year ringing in upon us all - Dwayne and I have decided to - begin eating an elephant.

By the time we’d closed on this place - there was a “ Honey-Do “ list that took life with an over-bearing promise of not being able to take off on its own legs for the next ten years.

There are times when things become so overwhelming.  Of course - it’s no help when we’re all expected to keep up with the out-of-control speed of the hijacking by technology that has begun choking life.

And let me not forget to include the icing on the cake that is killing us all - the greedy dictatorship developing by the hands of the corporate and financial institutions in this world.

Our answer for surviving - turning off the television news stations.

We have only one exception.  We remain loyal to watching our local WATE ‘s  morning and evening news - here in the Knoxville area.

And so - we take a look at that “ Honey-Do “ list - once again.

Dwayne had already sealed the cinderblock wall of the basement in 2009.

Trying to work down there while building our gorgeous dining table for my Christmas present - that same year - was a chilling challenge for Dwayne.

Finally - I decided I was sick and tired of going downstairs to the basement in the winter to do laundry.  At this very moment - we could hang beef there!

Well - can’t very well protest and wobble on the laundry.  We just don’t wear dirty clothes in this house.

With the price of fuel jacking up - again - we’re having to be very careful with our money.  I’m doing what I can - trying to make sure we have a sum going into an “ Emergency Fund “ - to cover unexpected events.

And we all know - those events seem to be happening more and more in our lives - anymore.  Best to be prepared.

So - Dwayne went downstairs to measure and calculate - before heading off to Home Depot.

He came home with $100.00 worth of materials - to begin framing the exterior walls of the basement.

He managed to get the far end wall - the coldest one in winter - framed.

As we go from paycheck to payckeck - we’ll continue buying more materials until the entire basement is framed.

And then - we’ll begin on the insulation.


Granted - at that rate it could take us until spring 2014.  But - here's where my " worst case scenario thinking  " works as a safety net.  Whatever blessings of extra cash come our way will be used to - shall we say - speed up the process!

And may we all sleep as peacefully as Carlie in this house!

URGENT REQUEST - Horse Haven of Tennessee

This morning I received an email from Nina Margetson - Executive Director of Horse Haven in Tennessee - our most beloved Equine Rescue resource in the state.

Her news entails the number one nightmare every livestock owner fears.  And she has a desperate request.

I am posting her email - in hopes that others will forward this posting to others that may be able to help at this time.

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated.

I just received an upsetting phone call from one of our long time HHT supporters, and fosters. Two hours ago her barn burnt to the ground in Russellville, Kentucky. Luckily it had been a pretty day and all 9 horses had been turned out. Carla currently has two HHT horses on her property, one being a mini she had just recently adopted through us and had been using with her story telling for the local youth in the community. The other was an emotionally disturbed mare who has trust issues that she has been working with to help find her a home.  Neither were hurt.

I know this is a very trying time for her, and all she has asked for is to keep her in our prayers while she deals with this crisis, but I know we need to do more. She lost all her winter hay and everything that was in the barn. We plan to send up some blankets to help during the cold spells. What I am asking is, if you can find it in your heart to spare a few dollars to help another equine owner in need, it would be very helpful. Even just a few dollars to help with one bale of hay is appreciated. Even if you can't help in this manner, please say a little extra prayer for her and her husband and the animals.

I have put a special donation button on the front page of our website, if you would like to give this way you can log onto www.horsehaven.net or you can mail a check to HHT, P.O. Box 22841, Knoxville, TN  37933  with "Carla" wrote in the memo space.

Thank you

Nina L. Margetson
Executive Director
Horse Haven of Tennessee 

With a Grain of - Salt...

“ Come ‘n git it ! “

She’s lucky - because she doesn’t know how lucky she is to be inside today!

Wanna see how lucky she is?

I am not happy about this.

Mr. Zucker is allergic to - of all things - chicken and pork.

He kinda gets screwed out of many treats out on the market today - not to even mention the hassles we go through finding kibble without either added in the ingredients.

But Santa managed to find these and leave them in his stocking.

They’re all-natural Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes.

And then it donned on me - I have a Dehydrator!

So - I went Googling.  Came upon some instructions.

Several people had issues regarding length of time it takes to dehydrate the potato slices.

Until a member in the forum stated that she uses - salt - on her slices.

She lets them sit in the salt for about an hour.  The salt draws moisture out of the slices.  " Takes less time to dehydrate. "

But right here and now - I’m gonna tell you - DON’T DO IT.

I got as far as turning on my Dehydrator - before turning around and noticing a slice that got left behind on my island.

Out of curiosity - I went to taste a bite.

I would rather drink a cup of water out of the damn Gulf of Mexico!

Russet potatoes aren’t the only type of potatoes that will absorb flavors and clean your grease out!

All that salt in those sweet potato slices could kill my dogs.

I’ll be more than happy to start over.

And speaking of - starting over...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!

Let’s put it this way - 2011 has to be happier - because 2010 hogged all the misery.