Week 80, July 2, 2017

Thoughts and Quotes: The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore. You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these States. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory.

          John Adams, letter to wife Abigail, July 3^rd, 1776, Philadelphia

Almost, John, almost. Someone decided to make the holiday on the day the Declaration was signed instead.

Well, the Staycation was a good idea, but as with all good ideas, sometimes life has other plans.

The Pepper's Pals Report: I picked Stormy up on Monday and brought her home and put her in the screened-in patio. Dr. Davis told me I needed a bigger trap, so I got one and set it to see if I could catch Midnight. Guess not. She just sat by the trap and waited for me to feed her.

She moved over by the flower pot, but nothing doing.

I don't want to catch BJ, because the kittens are hers. She moved them in the night the very day Martha found them. We don't know where they are now. She wouldn't even go near the trap, so that's good for now.

After about an hour, I heard a noise, and look what I found - a neighbor's kitty. I knew he was a male, and any doubt who fathered those kittens? I think he might even be BJ's father. Kitties aren't above incest, you know. 

I called his owner and told her that I had him in a cage and wanted to take him to the vet and have him neutered, but she would have to call and give her permission. She did, and I did, and there went Monday.

Time for Others: We got Joey's 4th of July cards ready to put together. I forgot to take a photo of them, but I do have one of the birthday card she made for a cousin born on the 4th of July. I think it's great. And that was Tuesday.

Time for Others: I'm sure my family will have received their 4th of July cards by the time this post is published, so I can show you. I started too late, so I had to come up with a "production" card. Everyone got the same card - just a different background. And then I picked up the neighbor kitty and brought him home and that was my Wednesday.

Tales: I picked up the book I had on hold at the library, so now I have four books to read by July 15.

This one is a new addition, so it's due back on July 13. I started reading it, and right away I discovered that the lady who owns the flower shop lost her mother when she was 12, she miscarried at six months and has no other children, her husband left her because he thinks he's gay, and her father died of cancer. I was beginning to wonder if I really wanted to read this book, but as the Brits say, it's all starting to get sorted out.

I made the envelopes for my cards, addressed and stamped them, and took them by the post office on my way to the library. Then I went to Sam's and stocked up on fruit and meat. And that was my Thursday.

Tasting: I met Jeannie and Katie at Beth's for lunch. The quiche seemed different somehow, but still good. I had so much food, I brought mine home for breakfast the next morning.

Then we had show and tell for the four cards we made from the prescribed sketches. Jeanne's is top left, Katie's is lower left, then Patsy. It's legal to turn the card the other way or add embellishments.

Then I went to Petsmart and stocked up on kitty food, Greenies, and flea treatment and that was Friday.

Time for Others: I made anniversary cards all day. I made the same card I used in May and June, so you can't see it until after April of 2018, because that's when the last one will be sent. And there went Saturday. I did say that I was going to make cards, however, so this was a Staycation day.

Tips: If you got a red square skillet pan for Christmas or bought one right around that time, it's time to season it again.

Heat the oven to 300F degrees.

Put a light coating of salad oil all over the inside of the pan.

Leave it in the oven 20 minutes. Remove to cool.

Once it's cool to the touch, wipe out the oil, and you're ready to go for another six months.

Tips again: Can you believe we're halfway through the year? It's time to test your smoke and carbon dioxide alarms and replace batteries.

Tips still again: If you're looking for somewhere to go close to home, try looking HERE. You'll probably find places in your state you didn't know existed, or you might want to try a neighboring state.

Too cute for words (thank you, Katie): Click HERE.

Things That Grow: The end of the glads is near. I had this on my counter on Monday.

But by Sunday, I have only this:

This came up from last year, and I have no idea what it is; if I did, I'd plant more.

The cantaloupe plant is taking over and still no blossoms. I feel it won't produce.

My Johnny-Jump-Ups are finally starting to bloom, and also the nasturtiums, though their leaves should be a darker green.

I'll be trying soup made from the English Cress soon.

The Japanese Beetles are feasting on my zinnias. Please! Someone come up with an insecticide for these little monsters!

And I picked my first two zucchinis.

I made Hillbilly Stir Fry. You start with potatoes, then sliced summer sausage or Kielbasa, and all the veggies which need to be used. This has potatoes, carrots, celery, red onion, radishes, cabbage, and the zucchini. To serve, I top it with chopped fresh tomatoes. There you have it - all five colors in one dish.

When it's finished, the California part of me says "Yuck" to the overcooked veggies, but the Missouri part of me says, "Yum".

The Pepper and Stormy Report: I called the Humane Society on Monday as instructed, and now it's Sunday and no response to all my recorded messages. I forgot to tell you that it's a no-kill shelter, so not to worry. In the meantime, I've decided to keep her a little longer. She rubs against my legs when I feed her, but the vet's office said that she was cranky all weekend, and when Joey was here, Stormy was afraid of her. She needs more time to be socialized. In the meantime, my screened-in patio has become her home. I was going to use it for my July tea, but it doesn't look very inviting with her litter box, two feeding dishes, a water dish, the carrier (which she sleeps in), and a baby blanket she plays with like she's a puppy.

I let her in the house one day, but Pepper immediately started trying to herd her toward the slider. She's jealous, too. Pepper was nosing around the screened-in patio, and she was on Pepper's footstool. Pepper went in the carrier and flopped down. Stormy saw him, ran over to the carrier, and jumped against the side to evict him. That's HER carrier.

They're great together so long as something separates them. They like to be near each other.

Theme Dining: I've decided to cheat and move one of the August meals to July. It's the Beachcomber Brunch. (August is going to be a bear).

Invitation

Table

The Menu

The Food

The Party Favors
Hats and shell necklaces on each chair.

The Recipes

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

1 lb. bulk sausage

1 pkg of 8 crescent rolls

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

5 eggs

1 cup frozen hash browns (thawed)

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

2 Tbs shredded Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375°.

Brown and drain the sausage.

Place the crescent roll dough in the bottom of an ungreased 9” x 13” baking dish, pressing seams together. Grease the sides.

Spoon on sausage.

Sprinkle on hash browns.

Top with Cheddar.

Beat together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper and pour over all.

Sprinkle on Parmesan.

Bake 25-30 minutes on bottom shelf.

Recipes for Macaroni Salad and Fruit Salad are already posted. Use the Salad drop-down above. And the Apple Bread is under Bread and called "Other Mom's Apple Bread".

The photos are from the actual brunch, and I didn't get a picture of the sweets. I will try to make them this week and post the photo and recipes for Lemon Bread and Sour Cream Coffee Cake next week.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

BELATED HAPPY 150TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR CANADIAN FRIENDS

HAVE A BEACHCOMBER BRUNCH

(You don't have to serve all those dishes)

MAKE A WISH ON THE FULL BUCK MOON NEXT SUNDAY

HUG YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, PETS - OH HECK! EVEN STRANGERS - EVERYONE NEEDS A HUG NOW AND THEN

PLAN AT LEAST A DAY TRIP, IF NOT A VACATION (STAYCATIONS DON'T WORK)

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE