This is claimed to be a true story. I haven't been able to verify that it's false. Either way, if this is the kind of representation we have in Congress, it's damned depressing:
A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where Nancy Pelosi happened to appear. Ms Pelosi took the opportunity to schmooze the good doctor a bit and asked him a question with which he was most at ease.
"Would you mind telling me, Doctor," she asked, "how you detect a mental deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?"
"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask a simple question which anyone should answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the track."
"What sort of question?" asked Pelosi.
"Well, you might ask, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'"
Pelosi thought a moment, and then said with a nervous laugh, "You wouldn't happen to have another example would you? I must confess I don't know much about history."
Your tax dollars at work...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Whoo-hoo! SUCCESS!!!!
As some of you may know, I've been making cheese since getting our Jersey cow, Matilda, last November. Actually I've been making it a bit longer, since I was the "relief milker" for our neighbor's cow for many months, but since getting Matilda I've had to ramp up my cheese-making efforts simply to handle the daily milk load.
Cheddar has been my Achilles' Heel. Cheddar is a hard cheese and it has to be pressed and then aged before eating. What this means, of course, is you have to wait three months to know if you screwed up. I've tried a whole bunch of different recipes and a whole bunch of aging methods and gotten some pretty bad results.
So lately I've been following a new recipe and using proper cheese wax. Last night my husband got curious about this new cheese, and even though the earliest round was still about a month shy of the "medium cheddar" status we were trying to achieve, he cut into it.
Delicious! Honest to God, it was delicious! Between the four of us, we ate nearly half the loaf and almost spoiled our appetite for dinner, it was that good! It's still a bit "mild" in taste, but hey, it's also a month too early. I was so damned tickled I actually called a neighbor to brag.
I'm going to throw away all the other cheeses aging in the pantry and stick to the current recipe.
Whoo-hoo! One more step toward self-sufficiency!
These are three stages of cheese ripening. On the left is green cheese that came out of the press a few days ago. It has dried and formed a rind and is ready to be waxed. In the center is waxed cheese, about half-way through its aging. On the right is the loaf we cut into last night and devoured. You can see bits of wax still clinging to it. By the way, the wax can be peeled off and re-used.
Cheddar has been my Achilles' Heel. Cheddar is a hard cheese and it has to be pressed and then aged before eating. What this means, of course, is you have to wait three months to know if you screwed up. I've tried a whole bunch of different recipes and a whole bunch of aging methods and gotten some pretty bad results.
So lately I've been following a new recipe and using proper cheese wax. Last night my husband got curious about this new cheese, and even though the earliest round was still about a month shy of the "medium cheddar" status we were trying to achieve, he cut into it.
Delicious! Honest to God, it was delicious! Between the four of us, we ate nearly half the loaf and almost spoiled our appetite for dinner, it was that good! It's still a bit "mild" in taste, but hey, it's also a month too early. I was so damned tickled I actually called a neighbor to brag.
I'm going to throw away all the other cheeses aging in the pantry and stick to the current recipe.
Whoo-hoo! One more step toward self-sufficiency!
These are three stages of cheese ripening. On the left is green cheese that came out of the press a few days ago. It has dried and formed a rind and is ready to be waxed. In the center is waxed cheese, about half-way through its aging. On the right is the loaf we cut into last night and devoured. You can see bits of wax still clinging to it. By the way, the wax can be peeled off and re-used.
Hypocrisy is soooooo amusing
So I hear Al Gore couldn't be bothered to turn off any of his lights during "Earth Hour" this weekend.
According to the news story:
Drew Johnson, the president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, decided to drive by Gore's mansion in Nashville at 8:48 p.m. and records that floodlights were on illuminating the driveway leading up to the main quarter.
"I pulled up to Al's house, located in the posh Belle Meade section of Nashville, at 8:48 p.m. – right in the middle of Earth Hour," he wrote on his blog. "I found that the main spotlights that usually illuminate his 9,000 square foot mansion were dark, but several of the lights inside the house were on."
He added: "The kicker, though, were the dozen or so floodlights grandly highlighting several trees and illuminating the driveway entrance of Gore’s mansion. I [kid] you not, my friends, the savior of the environment couldn’t be bothered to turn off the gaudy lights that show off his goofy trees."
I'm sorry - maybe I'm just a dim bulb here - but what the hell is the man who spearheaded the global-warming squawking doing (a) using spotlights to illuminate his house? and (b) using spotlights to illuminate TREES?
This doesn't address the obvious issue of living in a 9000 square foot house to begin with.
And THIS is the guy who ousted Irena Sendler from winning the Nobel Peace Prize????
Meanwhile, during Earth Hour the other night, I looked around and counted three lightbulbs in use in our house - one each in the kitchen, living room, and front room. No, we weren't participating in Earth Hour. For us this is normal.
So who's greener - Al or us?
Grrr.
According to the news story:
Drew Johnson, the president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, decided to drive by Gore's mansion in Nashville at 8:48 p.m. and records that floodlights were on illuminating the driveway leading up to the main quarter.
"I pulled up to Al's house, located in the posh Belle Meade section of Nashville, at 8:48 p.m. – right in the middle of Earth Hour," he wrote on his blog. "I found that the main spotlights that usually illuminate his 9,000 square foot mansion were dark, but several of the lights inside the house were on."
He added: "The kicker, though, were the dozen or so floodlights grandly highlighting several trees and illuminating the driveway entrance of Gore’s mansion. I [kid] you not, my friends, the savior of the environment couldn’t be bothered to turn off the gaudy lights that show off his goofy trees."
I'm sorry - maybe I'm just a dim bulb here - but what the hell is the man who spearheaded the global-warming squawking doing (a) using spotlights to illuminate his house? and (b) using spotlights to illuminate TREES?
This doesn't address the obvious issue of living in a 9000 square foot house to begin with.
And THIS is the guy who ousted Irena Sendler from winning the Nobel Peace Prize????
Meanwhile, during Earth Hour the other night, I looked around and counted three lightbulbs in use in our house - one each in the kitchen, living room, and front room. No, we weren't participating in Earth Hour. For us this is normal.
So who's greener - Al or us?
Grrr.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Chuckle du jour...
On a Saturday afternoon, in Washington, D. C., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's aide visited the Cardinal of the Catholic cathedral.
He told the Cardinal that Nancy Pelosi would be attending the next day's sermon, and he asked if the Cardinal would kindly point out Pelosi to the congregation and say a few words that would include calling Pelosi a saint.
The Cardinal replied, "No. I don't really like the woman, and there are issues of conflict with the Catholic Church over certain of Pelosi's views." Pelosi's aide then said, "Look. I'll write a check here and now for a donation of $100,000 to your church if you'll just tell the congregation you see Pelosi as a saint."
The Cardinal thought about it and said, "Well, the church can use the money, so I'll work your request into tomorrow's sermon." As Pelosi's aide promised, House Speaker Pelosi appeared for the Sunday sermon and seated herself prominently at the edge of the main aisle.
And, during the sermon, as promised, the Cardinal pointed out that House Speaker Pelosi was present.
Then the Cardinal went on to explain to the congregation -- "While Speaker Pelosi's presence is probably an honor to some, she is not my favorite person. Some of her views are contrary to those of the church, and she tends to flip-flop on many other views. Nancy Pelosi is a petty, self-absorbed hypocrite, a thumb sucker, and a nit-wit. Nancy Pelosi is also a serial liar, a cheat, and a thief. Nancy Pelosi is the worst example of a Catholic I have ever personally witnessed. She married for money and is using it to lie to the American people. She also has a reputation for shirking her Representative obligations both in Washington, and in California.. She simply is not to be trusted."
The Cardinal completed his view of Pelosi with, "But, when compared to Senators Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, and John Kerry, House Speaker Pelosi is a saint."
He told the Cardinal that Nancy Pelosi would be attending the next day's sermon, and he asked if the Cardinal would kindly point out Pelosi to the congregation and say a few words that would include calling Pelosi a saint.
The Cardinal replied, "No. I don't really like the woman, and there are issues of conflict with the Catholic Church over certain of Pelosi's views." Pelosi's aide then said, "Look. I'll write a check here and now for a donation of $100,000 to your church if you'll just tell the congregation you see Pelosi as a saint."
The Cardinal thought about it and said, "Well, the church can use the money, so I'll work your request into tomorrow's sermon." As Pelosi's aide promised, House Speaker Pelosi appeared for the Sunday sermon and seated herself prominently at the edge of the main aisle.
And, during the sermon, as promised, the Cardinal pointed out that House Speaker Pelosi was present.
Then the Cardinal went on to explain to the congregation -- "While Speaker Pelosi's presence is probably an honor to some, she is not my favorite person. Some of her views are contrary to those of the church, and she tends to flip-flop on many other views. Nancy Pelosi is a petty, self-absorbed hypocrite, a thumb sucker, and a nit-wit. Nancy Pelosi is also a serial liar, a cheat, and a thief. Nancy Pelosi is the worst example of a Catholic I have ever personally witnessed. She married for money and is using it to lie to the American people. She also has a reputation for shirking her Representative obligations both in Washington, and in California.. She simply is not to be trusted."
The Cardinal completed his view of Pelosi with, "But, when compared to Senators Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, and John Kerry, House Speaker Pelosi is a saint."
You think YOU have it tough?
A friend emailed this story.
There recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena.
During WWII, Irena got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist. She had an ulterior motive. She KNEW what the Nazis' plans were for the Jews (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack (for larger kids). She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kid/infant noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazis broke both her legs, arms, and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most of course had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.
Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected.
Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming.
Help pass this around the world, will you?
There recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena.
During WWII, Irena got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist. She had an ulterior motive. She KNEW what the Nazis' plans were for the Jews (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack (for larger kids). She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kid/infant noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazis broke both her legs, arms, and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most of course had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.
Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected.
Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming.
Help pass this around the world, will you?
To all you "invisible moms" out there...
I found this essay called "The Invisible Mom." Wow. Talk about awesome justification for all those women who have wondered if they've done the right things by giving up a career to stay home with their kids...
Answering a few comments....
Here are some answers to a few of the comments over various and sundry things:
Regarding cream cheese - I used the recipe found in the book "Home Cheese Making" my brother gave me for Christmas, specifically the recipe found on pg 85 (the cooked-curd method). Here it is:
- 2 qts light cream or half-and-half - heat to 86 degrees F
- Add 4 oz mesophilic starter (I have lots of this on hand for cheddar cheese)
- 3 drops liquid rennet diluted in 1/3 cup cool water - use ONE TEASPOON of this already very diluted rennet (which answers the question about whether cream cheese requires rennet)
- Set the cream in a warm spot (72 degrees or more) for 12 hours - a solid curd will form
- Heat two quarts of water to 170 degrees. Add enough of the hot water to the curd to raise its temp to 125 degrees. Pour the watery curd into a colander lined with (in my circumstances) a pillowcase (the book says cheesecloth, but I hate using cheesecloth - I keep two clean old pillowcases just for cheesemaking). Hang the bag/pillowcase over a bowl until it stops dripping (this takes a few hours).
- I added a mere 1/4 teaspoon of salt and it turned out just fine. Made only half a pound, though, and I need 1 1/2 lbs for a triple recipe of peanut butter pie, so I'll be making another double batch today for Tuesday's pie baking.
To the reader who expressed interest in whether there's a house for sale nearby because she likes the idea of our weekly neighborhood get-togethers (LOL) - well, not a house, but we have 20 acres of gorgeous land with a pond for sale! Email me if you're interested (patrice@patricelewis.com).
Regarding cream cheese - I used the recipe found in the book "Home Cheese Making" my brother gave me for Christmas, specifically the recipe found on pg 85 (the cooked-curd method). Here it is:
- 2 qts light cream or half-and-half - heat to 86 degrees F
- Add 4 oz mesophilic starter (I have lots of this on hand for cheddar cheese)
- 3 drops liquid rennet diluted in 1/3 cup cool water - use ONE TEASPOON of this already very diluted rennet (which answers the question about whether cream cheese requires rennet)
- Set the cream in a warm spot (72 degrees or more) for 12 hours - a solid curd will form
- Heat two quarts of water to 170 degrees. Add enough of the hot water to the curd to raise its temp to 125 degrees. Pour the watery curd into a colander lined with (in my circumstances) a pillowcase (the book says cheesecloth, but I hate using cheesecloth - I keep two clean old pillowcases just for cheesemaking). Hang the bag/pillowcase over a bowl until it stops dripping (this takes a few hours).
- I added a mere 1/4 teaspoon of salt and it turned out just fine. Made only half a pound, though, and I need 1 1/2 lbs for a triple recipe of peanut butter pie, so I'll be making another double batch today for Tuesday's pie baking.
To the reader who expressed interest in whether there's a house for sale nearby because she likes the idea of our weekly neighborhood get-togethers (LOL) - well, not a house, but we have 20 acres of gorgeous land with a pond for sale! Email me if you're interested (patrice@patricelewis.com).
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Turkeys in the Mist
I went outside early one foggy morning around dawn and beheld this noble sight:
I can't believe our Founding Fathers actually chose the silly ol' bald eagle over this beautiful creature...
I can't believe our Founding Fathers actually chose the silly ol' bald eagle over this beautiful creature...
Easy Cheesy
We're supposed to bring dessert this Tuesday to our weekly neighborhood get-together. I thought I'd bring peanut butter pie. Trouble is, the recipe calls for cream cheese and I didn't have any.
With a cow producing three gallons of milk a day, it just goes against my goat to actually have to buy a dairy product. So I decided to try making cream cheese.
Piece o' cake. Why didn't I do this sooner?
Peanut butter pie, here we come! I think I'll make a triple recipe.
With a cow producing three gallons of milk a day, it just goes against my goat to actually have to buy a dairy product. So I decided to try making cream cheese.
Piece o' cake. Why didn't I do this sooner?
Peanut butter pie, here we come! I think I'll make a triple recipe.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The swans are on the move
Ah, spring is in the air. I'm sure I'll be able to find it somewhere. It's been pouring rain and cold and windy all day, but the rain has melted the snow away and we can see glimpses of green amongst the brown and soggy fields.
My husband saw five bald eagles yesterday, clustered together on the ground. We saw swans on the lake this morning on the way to church - at least twenty of them. Then tonight as I milked the cow, flock after flock after flock of swans flew overhead.
Yep, spring is in the air. Or at least the swans are.
Not such a bad place to live, out here in the boondocks.
My husband saw five bald eagles yesterday, clustered together on the ground. We saw swans on the lake this morning on the way to church - at least twenty of them. Then tonight as I milked the cow, flock after flock after flock of swans flew overhead.
Yep, spring is in the air. Or at least the swans are.
Not such a bad place to live, out here in the boondocks.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
A hotbed of harpists
The unusual talent you find in small town America never fails to amaze me. Here we are in the rural panhandle of Idaho, in a town of 1000, and we're a hotbed of harpists.
This afternoon our daughters had a music recital. Instruments included harp, piano, violin, voice, and guitar. The harps, of course, were the most impressive from sheer quantity if nothing else. How many people have ever heard a dozen harps at once, ranging from lap harps to concert-sized pedal harps?
This is all due to the indomitable efforts of a local and elderly lady who simply loves music and wants nothing more than to share her joy in the harp with everyone she can rope in (my husband included). No one is professional but they're all having fun.
(This was the rehearsal so no one is in the audience seats yet.)
This afternoon our daughters had a music recital. Instruments included harp, piano, violin, voice, and guitar. The harps, of course, were the most impressive from sheer quantity if nothing else. How many people have ever heard a dozen harps at once, ranging from lap harps to concert-sized pedal harps?
This is all due to the indomitable efforts of a local and elderly lady who simply loves music and wants nothing more than to share her joy in the harp with everyone she can rope in (my husband included). No one is professional but they're all having fun.
(This was the rehearsal so no one is in the audience seats yet.)
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