TXRed

I enjoyed reading what all you remember. Unfortunately, I am familiar with MOST of it all (except the Canadian stuff) Must mean I'm older than dirt. Who knows . . . . One of my oldest TV memories is the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mic . . . . . . . . Key . . Y?, because we like you. M O U S E . Mickey Mouse! . . . . . . . . I wanted to be like Annette. And, of course, I had a crush on several of the guys. In fact, I named one of my sons for a Walt Disney character in Old Yeller. (I was infatuated with "Travis") An early candy memory is the candied orange slices that my grandmother use to give us each Sunday when we had a family dinner together. (Boy, that's a long time ago) I can't imagine eating one of those things now, but since that was the only candy she had in the house, we thought it was pretty good. I did not see where anyone mentioned "Snipe Hunting". Of course, I was in my early teens when my father first took me out snipe hunting. Now, that's something you definitely don't want your children to miss out on. Most kids go once and then decide to take others hunting. One of my sons went numerous times before he made that choice. Now that was fun!!! Of course, the "teacher" who takes you Snipe hunting really needs to know what they are doing for it to be really fun. Anyone ever soap up the concrete patio and go sliding on it? That was a favorite activity of ours in the summer. That is, until the time I was babysitting, and one of the kids hit the concrete with his chin and split it open. How about summer days lieing on the grass looking up at the clouds and deciding what type of characters they looked like? Or summer evenings on the grass (after a great game of tag) looking up at the stars and trying to figure out what is what? Making SNOW cream when the slightest snowfall hit and made a few drifts. (remember, I'm in TX . . . . . snow drifts were rare) Visiting cousins who lived on the farm and thoroughly enjoying being there. Watching the cows be milked and an occasionally squirt going to the kittens. Or pumping water out of the well. (My cousins were bored to tears, but then, they came to visit us and were ecstatic to just walk around the corner to the little store. Then, it was our turn to be bored) FISH FRY! That is one of my greatest memories. Every time relatives came to visit, we would have a fish fry. Daddy fried catfish, potatoes, and hush puppies. (He made the biggest mess in the kitchen) All of the kids ran around outside playing nonsensical games and having a blast while the fish cooked. Then, after everyone ate, the adult men sat around and talked, the women cleaned up Daddy's mess, and the kids played some more. Some memories we have from things that other people are in charge of (like movies, etc). Other memories we have are those that we made ourselves. Here are a few of the memories my kids have that we created for our family: Easter Campout & haypile hunt (we would invite friends over and campout in the back pasture on Friday night and have potluck dinner & snipe hunting, of course.) The next morning, we would have sunrise breakfast and then a hayride & various games. Around noon, we would tear up a bale or two of hay, make a pile, fill it full of individually wrapped candy, and then, the kids would dive into the hay to get the candy. We had to do it in groups by ages, because the older kids got a little rough. We put fresh candy in the pile for each group. It was a blast!!! New Year's Eve Slumber Party: we invited a whole houseful of kids to come spend the night with us; so their parents could go to the Stake Dances. We watched TV, played games, and snacked at night. At midnight, we all went outside with pots and pans and made as much noise as possible. The next morning, we would get up and have pancakes for breakfast and then, walk to the back pasture and jump on the big round haybales that were there. (I think we had 28 kids at our house the last time we did this really big. . . . . . that was in our two bedroom house) Christmas Eve: we fix Mexican food for dinner and make homemade pecan pralines for dessert, we invite friends over & play board games. Valentines: Hubby makes up baggies of candy for each child and places it on the table with their names on it. This started out when we had our seven at home, and we would buy several bags of candy and split it between them. Now, it is a MAJOR production. Although grown, our children still think they are suppose to get their bag of candy from dad. The kicker is that they get one, their spouses get one, and their children get one. I should buy stock in Hershey's. Halloween: I kind of got rid of this holiday years ago living out in the country, and my children never went trick or treating, etc. However, since we've been living in the city, we turn out all the lights, put a movie in, and serve hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and soda. Funny thing is that a couple of my grown daughters got all dressed up this year to go to he Church party. One came in all decked out in a homemade fairy costume and announced: "I feel just like a five year old going out for Halloween for the first time. Hmmmmmmmm. . . . . . maybe that is because I was never allowed to do Halloween before". Oh, well.. . . . . . . . they still have "memories". They can raise their children their way and create their own memories. St. Patrick's Day: My kids will all tell the story of the year I threw a St. Patrick's Day party for them and put green die in everything including the popcorn. Birthday fun: One daughter tells the story of her 8th birthday party where they all rode on our pet pig. He probably weighed 2 or 300 pounds at the time. One kid would get in front of him with a bucket of feed, run backwards, and the other kid would jump on and ride. Animal Antics: Living out in the country, we had various different animals. Each of the kids had a pet pig at one time or another. One was litter box trained and went on vacation with us. Then, of course, there were the various cats, dogs, chickens, goats, snakes, horse, calves, etc., etc., etc. It's fun to look back at some of the things we remember, but it's even more fun to look forward to creating some new memories. We need to always remember to take the time to make new memories with our families. Peace, TXRed

Are they healthier srouted? or non? ← If they were sprouts that I was putting in a salad and eating fresh, I would have to figure that they were healthier. However, I question whether or not they would be healthier if they are cooked. Truth is, I don't have a clue as to the answer to your question.

YES, I do!!! Actually, I HAVE to or . . . . . . . . . . . . . . man, would I be depressed. Grant it, I also know that over the years, there have been some really dirty dealings going on. But, if we don't vote, we sure as heck will not be counted. I'm fairly "young" in politics, and the more that I learn, the more frustrated I get. However, I am also getting more determined to do what ever I can to make some changes even if they are very minute. It is my understanding (from others who were involved in politics ages ago) that such things as "dead" votes were placed for LBJ when he first got into office. Since that time, there are certain rules in place to help prevent that sort of thing. For instance, there are certain checks and balances at each polling location to prevent fraud. Now, that's not to say that it can not happen. . . . . . . . anytime someone really wants to figure out a way to "cheat", they can usually find a way. However, from working the polls almost each time since about 1978, I feel pretty confident that our votes are counted. In fact, we have actually seen, on some local elections in particular, that just one vote has made a difference. I do not really understand about the electoral college yet, and have not done much study on it either. So; I can't give you any info on that. (most of my involvement has been restricted to working the poll, acting as a poll watcher, writing resolutions, attending county and state meetings, and recently, attending some local political meetings. Sounds like a lot, but it really is not.) I am extremely upset and angry over the new law that was just passed where we have to allow anyone to vote regardless of whether or not they are on our rolls. This one just blew my mind when I first heard about it, but when I actually saw it put into practice at the last election, it really infuriated me. Here's the scoop: people came in to vote who were not on our printed list and who flat out told us that they had never sign up to vote. They demanded that they had the right to vote though; so we had to allow them to vote on a special ballot that was placed in an envelope and then into the ballot box. When the box got to the county clerk's office, she was to determine whether or not their ballot was legal and should be counted. problem #!: it's a waste of our time and resources processing someone who we know (and they know) never even attempted to register to vote. problem #2: those people who voted that way walked away thinking that they had done something, so they still won't make the effort to get legally registered to be sure that their vote counts the next time. problem #3: here is a potential for fraud . . . . . . people can go from place to place to place to vote as often as they want to. Mind you, hopefully, their votes will NOT be counted since they are not legally registered, but with that many extra votes sitting there available, who is to say that someone won't decide to count the ones they like? (there just is no need for the extra work, paper, or decisions to be made) People need to register to vote. Then, they need to exercise their right to vote. Then, they need to become more involved in finding out about the issues and how they can change them. We can not be sure that the person we elect will be able or willing to do what we think they will, but if we sit back and do nothing, we are definitely lost. Sorry, this particular subject should probably be moved elsewhere. There was a guy back in my old precinct district that came in each presidential election and wrote in "Mickey Mouse". His philosophy was that he did not have the right to complain about who was president if he did not vote; so he voted for who he wanted. B) This drove the Precinct Judge crazy, because she felt like he was wasting his vote. She finally convinced him that she had actually seen elections won by only a few votes; so the man started voted for someone on the ballot. There have been plenty of times that I have felt like I simply voted for the lesser of two evils, but if I didn't vote, then the worst of the two evils would be elected. Try to meet your candidates face to face if possible, and be bold enough to ask them questions. Listen up when others ask them questions also, and see what answers they get. Talk to people you trust, and see what their opinions of a candidate are. Do everything you can to make as informed a decision as possible. We have elections coming up next Tuesday. If you are registered, go VOTE!!! If you are not registered, go get registered. You won't be able to vote this time (unless you want to vote that "limited" ballot thing), but there are other elections coming up next year. Peace, TXRed

The Base Surgeon may tell you that, but other doctors do not necessarily agree. One doctor I saw said that the flu shot would not keep you from getting the flu, but it would help it be easier to handle. He had several patients who got the flu pretty soon after they got their shot. (which kind of makes people think that's what gave it to them) I've talked to quite a few people who got their flu shots, got the flu horribly, and won't take another shot. Then, there are those who tell me that they always get their shot at the beginning of the season, and they feel pretty good about it. If I was in really bad health, I'd be afraid to take the shot myself, but that's just me. (My doctor and I went round and round about whether or not I should take it a couple of years ago.) Thank goodness, it's still a choice and not mandated. (I prefer making my own choice whether it turns out right or wrong.) Peace to all, TXRed ← I think you are missing the point. The statement was not about whether getting the shot would absolutely prevent the flu but rather if the shot can cause the flu... which it cannot. It may cause some minor flu-like symptoms in a few people but it doesn't cause the flu itself. ← No, I did not really miss the point. I understood that the Base Surgeon said you can not get the flu from taking the flu shot. I, personally, am not convinced of that. I have talked to several people who got the worst case of flu that they had ever experienced right after taking their flu shot. If you talk to different doctors about "anything", you will get differing opinions. One example: My child was born on Thursday night, and Saturday morning, I wanted to go home from the hospital. My doctor was ok with it, but the pediatrician gave me all kinds of static about how my child could get jaundiced, etc. . . . . . . . I had to sign her out of the hospital "against medical advice". That really freaked me out; so I took her to the doctor the following Monday to be sure she did not have jaundice. As this doctor was examining her, he began to tell me to start her on baby cereal at two weeks. I told him that I did not agree with that, because I was breastfeeding and it would slow down my milk production, etc. (I went into detail with my reasoning) He told me that he would not accept my child as his patient, because I would not follow what he wanted. He assured me that she was healthy and had no jaundice problems & sent me on my way without charging me. I went across town to another doctor who, while examining her, told me that he preferred that I not feed her any solids until she was six months old. I said, "Ok". My husband says that I just go from doctor to doctor until I find one that agrees with me. My feelings are that if they all have such differing opinions, why shouldn't I find the one that agrees with me? So; just because one doctor says something is a certain way, that does not mean that I necessarily believe it. Like I said before, thank goodness it is a choice and not mandated. I'd be in a heap of trouble. TXRed P.S. As with other things, I strongly believe that we need to pray about all decisions that we make. Gather as much info as we can, and take it to the Lord as to what WE need to do in our particular instance. I do not believe that the answers are always the same for everyone. Just my opinion. . . . . everyone has a right to one. (Of course, I tell my friends that they have a RIGHT to mine and that I give it freely. )

The availability of flu vaccine and the general cost of health care to the elderly and low income are two entirely different subjects, IMHO. Our health care system, IMHO, is definitely flawed. Unfortunately, I don't have the answer, and apparently, no one else has come up with it yet either. Winnie is right about some of our elderly having to decide between food and meds or heat and meds. I happened to be chatting with an elderly woman at Wal Mart (in the fresh fruit section) one day who was telling me that her husband couldn't understand why she would not buy him certain fruit that he asked for. She went on to tell me how much money they put out for his meds each month and how much money they get from Social Security. It's sad! The cost of everything keeps going up, but the SS payments can't keep up with other things. However, I do not blame Bush for that. Yes, Bush is president, but I put more of the blame on the many people in government positions below him and on the local levels as well. Many of them have been in politics for many many more years than he has and have been the ones to make the decisions that have gotten us to where we are today. Eight years of Bush will not be able to FIX the problems that have existed here for so many decades. I, personally, get really bent out of shape when people start putting the blame for every problem on Bush. Personally, I like the man. . . . . . . . no, I don't think he is perfect, but even with his faults, he beats the heck out of what we had on capital hill before. In my opinion, one of the first things that we need to do to get some changes in our country is to insist that our leaders be on the same retirement plan that they have for the rest of us. . . . . . . . . . Social Security. Then, they need to live on a more reasonable salary. Gee whiz . . . . . . . . . imagine what most of us "regular type people" could do with a congressman's salary. Frivolous lawsuits need to be stopped like the lady who went after McDonald's because SHE spilled hot coffee on herself. Or even worse, the guy who is trying to sue because "fast food" is making him fat. Gimme a break! Yesterday, a man was telling me about a guy he knows who is involved in a lawsuit about using welding rods. The man said that his money from the asbestos suit was almost run out. Yes, Winnie, there are a lot of things wrong here in the states. And, when we find out that our elected officials are voting according to their "special interests" groups, we need to get active and vote their butts out of office. Unfortunately, many of our own people also tend to put the blame on Bush, too, and they don't realize that their own senators and congressmen should shoulder a lot of the blame for problems. Some of those senators are "older than dirt" and have been in office forever. However, we still have a pretty great nation. We still have more freedom than most of the rest of the world. And, we still have many more opportunities than other people do. We just need to make sure that we keep our eyes open and be watchful to be sure we don't lose our freedoms. Winnie, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's condition. Cancer and the various treatments available is a whole other subject. That's a really difficult disease to have to deal with. It's touched the lives of many that I am close to. Many are altering their diets drastically and seeming to see some results. It's hard though. Peace, TXRed

The Base Surgeon may tell you that, but other doctors do not necessarily agree. One doctor I saw said that the flu shot would not keep you from getting the flu, but it would help it be easier to handle. He had several patients who got the flu pretty soon after they got their shot. (which kind of makes people think that's what gave it to them) I've talked to quite a few people who got their flu shots, got the flu horribly, and won't take another shot. Then, there are those who tell me that they always get their shot at the beginning of the season, and they feel pretty good about it. If I was in really bad health, I'd be afraid to take the shot myself, but that's just me. (My doctor and I went round and round about whether or not I should take it a couple of years ago.) Thank goodness, it's still a choice and not mandated. (I prefer making my own choice whether it turns out right or wrong.) Peace to all, TXRed

We really did not care for them sprouted, because they just did not have much flavor at all. I prefer to just soak them overnight; so they will cook easier, but I don't ever let them sprout anymore

Frozen Roast does quite well in the crockpot, too. I am awful about remembering to thaw something out. Hubby said to put the frozen roast in the crockpot on Saturday night and see how it was by Sunday afternoon. Worked pretty well. I like to put my soaked pinto beans in the crockpot; so I don't have to worry about them being on the stove and running out of water. (I sort them and soak them in water over night, then, I drain that water off and put fresh water in the pot with them) I add cut up pieces of ham when I have it (bacon fat or a ham bone if I don't have the ham), a few peeled garlic cloves, and a chopped up onion or two. I usually add some garlic powder also and a pinch of salt (if hubby does not see me . . . . . he hates salt). I LOVE garlic; so the more the better as far as I'm concerned. Well, I don't have to worry about vampires anyway. or fleas. Speaking of F L E A S . . . . . . . garlic is great to keep them away. Of course, you have to get the body "saturated" and keep it that way. I had a ton of cats outside that had fleas, but the cat that was inside / outside did not have any. (I was putting garlic in her food on a regular basis. I had to start out with just a tiny amount to get her use to it, and then, I added more every day. Later on, I discovered that I could take a garlic oil capsule and rub it on her fur. . . .she always cleaned it off ) They sell a specially prepared garlic powder & parsley combo at the health food stores for pets which is what got me started on this, but I have since learned to give them the same thing I give my kids. Which brings me to another thought. . . . . . one of my daughters always goes on a "garlic regime" for a few weeks before girls' camp each summer. She found that if she does that, she does not get bitten by all the insects that bug the rest of the girls at camp even though they all carry their repellent. What's funny to me is that this is the one daughter in particular that always "pooh-poohed" all of mom's home remedies. If you soak pinto beans for a couple of days; so they sprout (soak for a few hours, drain, and then, rinse off a couple of times each day for the next couple of days), they will NOT cause gas. Of course, they won't have much flavor either. :) So; if you barely get them to sprout, you definitely want to add some spicing up. However, this is a good way to use them for those who have them in storage and hate them, because you can disguise them in other dishes without anyone knowing. With the pot of beans, I like to make either "corn fritters" or "best ever cornbread". B) Hubby & I love it. . . . .our kids hate it. Too bad! Just means more for us. Okay, NOW I'm getting hungry. I use cornbread mixes . . . . . like "corn-kits". Instead of following the recipe, I add a can of creamed corn, an egg, some sugar, grated cheese, chopped onions, and diced chilis. If I am not in a hurry, I will saute the onions in some butter with some sliced fresh garlic first. As corn fritters, I add enough milk to make the batter a little more like pancake batter and cook it on the griddle. As Best Ever Cornbread, I make sure that my cast iron skillet is buttered and heated up good, pour the batter in, and bake it until done. Then, of course, with both, they are served slathered with butter. NO . . . . . . I will not tell you how much I weigh. You definitely don't want the cornbread the way I make it very often. :) Peace, TXRed

FABULOUS!!! TXRed

Your Dad and you are in my prayers. Is he far away from where you are? TXRed

LDS convert of almost 28 years. TXRed

daizymae, I'm intersted! TXRed

[i guess I wouldn't feel so downhearted except that everything I read put out by the church emphasizes how important it is to raise your children right and keep a good spirit in the home. I just feel like I can't completely keep that standard in our home anymore--I mean I can keep it, but I can't control what my husbands says or does. I think you are all right, saying that we need to keep the lines of communication open. I guess I just need to hear a little commonsense from you all, because things can get a little messed up when they fester in your head for too long. I know that the church can sometimes be a lonely place for those who don't fit the stereotype mold... the last time I went to relief society everyone was talking about how their husbands were such great supports when it comes to the church and raising kids. It just made me feel more depressed, not so much about myself but on what my kids will be missing out on. I'm a new parent (my kids are just a few months old) so maybe I'll just have to learn with time that you can't create an ideal life for your children. I know I have a lot to learn. I do appreciate your thoughts, comments and well-wishes) This is a really difficult time for you, and you are right, you can not control what your husband does or says. You can, however, control what you do and say. Do NOT share this information without very careful prayer. I do agree that what actions we all take does affect others around us, but some things just should NOT be shared around freely. You and your husband have to try to work this out first without other peoples input. You have to know that whatever decision you come to is your decision and not other peoples. It is okay for you to discuss some things with your Bishop and ask him to help set you up with counseling although you don't need to tell him absolutely everything to be able to get his help. You are absolutely correct about the Church being lonely when you don't fit the perfect stereotype. It's really hard. And, it is even worse when the whole ward is talking about you and your situation. An example that recently happened in our ward: supposedly, a woman found her new husband had visited some porn sites on his computer, she told him to leave, and then, she proceeded to tell everyone she could all about it. Well, a short time later, her husband is back in her home, but members of the ward are finding it difficult to look at him and NOT think about what they have been told. (some who know the woman better question if she was telling the truth in the first place or not, but others just remember what she told them about the husband.) One of my daughters recently went through a divorce, and it was a very difficult decision for her to make. (her situation was very similar to what you describe except that her husband preferred to stay a member since he was getting Church assistance, but he would not embrace the Church. He would only attend Sacrament because the Bishop expects it from those getting assistance, but he would not have anything to do with other members or scripture study, FHE, prayers, etc.) She was very closed mouthed about it, because she knew that it was a decision that only she could make. After all, she is the one who will have to live with it either way. We knew that there were problems brewing, but we did not know just how bad it was. She shared some with the Bishop who told her that she needed to pray constantly about it. He tried to set up counseling for them, but hubby would not have any of it. Long story to short: Divorce was final the beginning of this year. When members began to find out that they divorced, all of a sudden, everyone began telling her that they could not believe she had waited as long as she did to get a divorce. No one had anything good to say about hubby at all. Everyone felt that they had some type of "right" to start telling her how they had viewed him and what she should be doing now. In other words, people butted into her business big time. . . . . . . . . . .Recently, hubby showed up to visit kids briefly. His appearance has altered so much that the kids weren't sure about him. (Long hair, "wife beater" t shirt, hickies all over his neck, etc) Daughter took it all as another confirmation to her that she made the correct decision for herself and her children. If you talk to too many people about your problems, you will get too much input, and it will be even more difficult to decide for yourself what YOU feel you need to do. Pray constantly for the Lord to guide you in the best way to deal with your particular circumstances. Also put your husband's name, yours, and your children's on the Temple prayer list and keep it there. In fact, I would put them on more than one. :) I believe in the power of prayer. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. TXRed

Most towns have some type of "helping hand" for Christmas. At least, all of the small towns around me do. Our town's program is sponsored by the local Police Department who know a lot of needy families. Also, the principal of the schools usually know who is in need of help. Some of the churches can also give you info on who could use your help. Don't forget to check with Goodwill or the Salvation Army also. Here in our town: Starting the day after Thanksgiving, people who are in need sign up at the PD, and then, the week before Christmas, they come down to the City Auditorium to pick up a food basket and "shop" for toys for their children. Those who can help donate toys, money, and canned goods to the PD. On distribution day, those needing help who signed up for it, have a volunteer go with them while they pick out a couple of toys for each of their children. Then, other volunteers will wrap the presents. Toys are sorted by age and sex. There is no cost to the recipients and the only requirement is that they sign up at the PD and show proof of residency in our town. Last year, we gave out food baskets to about 68 older people on one day and toys and food to about 106 families on the second day. In a neighboring town, the plan works where the parents drive up to the building and volunteers bring out food and toys to them. Volunteers pick out the toys instead of the parents. If you would really like to sponsor an entire family, check with the local school or church first. They may also be able to play "go between" for you; so that you can "gift" anonymously if you'd like. Another fun thing to do is to "pixie" someone. Wrap the gifts, put names on them, and put them on the recipients front porch in the middle of the night. We sent a bunch of goodies to our son while he was on his mission; so that he and his companion could do some "pixieing". That year, we made everything we gave away, and our missionary son had a blast giving out the things we sent him which included hair barrettes, dolls, dream catchers, wooden toys, etc. We sent him food for himself, and he and his companion decided to give that away also to some needy people they were teaching. He said it was one of the best Christmas' he had ever had. Because of the fact that missionaries are in people's homes, they often know which families really need help.. . . . . . . . talk to them. One of our family traditions for Christmas is to "gift" the missionaries with 12 things. We give all of the packages to them early in the month, and they are allowed to open one each night for 12 days before Christmas. Then, on Christmas Day, they come to our house for dinner, and the final present. The 12 gifts are always unusual. Some years, the kids have wrapped a stick of gum in several packages until it looked really big. Various items we've wrapped include: candy bars, boxes of cereal, containers of presweetened koolaide, boxes of pancake mix & bottles of syrup, jello, pudding mix, cake mixes, cheesecake mixes, etc. We also include a few small toys or other items such as ties, balls, mini cars, yo yo's, or anything else that seems silly enough. The first set of missionaries that we did that with went straight to their apartment and put all the packages under the tree and then took a picture. Missionary A is put in charge of doling out Missionary B's gifts and vice versa. We try to wrap things differently so they can't tell exactly what is in each package, and we number them so they know which ones to open first. Good luck and have fun!