Your Dog Is Saving Your Life

I am proud to feature my first quest post. I am honored to have this privilege. As you know  I am a big pet lover and dogs are such a big part of our lives. So, I hope you enjoy this. Please visit www.serenityhealth.com
after to see all of the wonderful stories.




 http://www.serenityhealth.com/blog/dog-saving-life-give/

Let me introduce Amber Liddell


Your Dog Is Saving Your Life-Make Sure You Give Back


It is said that money cannot buy happiness. It is easy to argue against this old adage, mainly because money can buy a dog (or buy things to take care of a free one). Go ahead and try not to feel some cheer and mirth when your dog tries to give you a kiss, nestles their head under your hand, wags their tail like they haven’t seen you in years when it’s only been hours or minutes, etc. What many don’t realize is that dogs also make us healthier in general and help us live longer.
The Silent Killer
Recent scientific studies have indicated some unsettling things about stress. A quick Google search on “mice stress study” can quickly illustrate a range of serious concerns. It would be folly to stress about stress, but it is wise to think about solutions when chronic stress is linked to depression, dysfunctional offspring, and even cancer.
Unfortunately, avoiding stress is no easy task, perhaps especially as our society “progresses.” To quote Poe, “I think human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active – not more happy – nor more wise, than he was 6,000 years ago.” Bear in mind also that Poe’s life predated cars with combustion engines, let alone vast highway infrastructures, large enterprises, and monstrous electrical grids to support the labors of the masses. Stress is something we all come to wrestle in one way or another.
Studies have also linked depression to early death. Unfortunately, depression is also something that is difficult to avoid and we all face it in some way or another. Even if you do not suffer from clinical depression, there common things that can contribute or cause one to experience depression are all to many.
On the bright side, knowing the danger is the key to dealing with it. If stress cannot be avoided, it can be balanced or negated. Getting a canine companion may be the best way to do so.
Dogs: Pets or Heroes?
Dogs do more for us than your average pet. Even if your dog doesn’t pull your baby from a fire, they are still a life saver. Dogs help reduce stress, fight loneliness and depression, lower blood pressure, and extend your life.
Even better, they are not terribly expensive to maintain and they are not exclusive. Dogs are wired to bond with humans and perhaps we are to them in turn. After all, our species have been intertwined for thousands of years, certainly longer than any other animal on such a level. There is a reason they are known for their loyalty. If all else abandons you in life, chances are your dog will not.
Giving Back
We can give our dogs the bare minimum to survive and they will still stick by us, but that does not mean that is the approach we should have. Your dog makes you happy and healthy. It is fair to return the favor, but also rewarding to know that they are enjoying their lives and couldn’t be happier anywhere else. Their time is sadly short compared to ours, after all. Spend the extra change to make them comfortable and content.
The relationship between human and dog started off as a basic symbiosis: they helped us hunt and we helped them eat. Since, the bond has deepened to help both species in ways our ancestors would probably never have imagined necessary. What a gift.
Adam Holmes is a nature enthusiast and dog lover who enjoys communicating his passion through the written word. When he is not training or playing with his dogs, he freelances for havahart.com, which specializes in progressive and humane wireless dog fences.

Top six things

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

# If something is going to go wrong,# it will and always be prepared for the worst.

Dealing with the public, you are open to have anything happen. With every small town, you always have the local business mogul.  You know the person that owns most of the business. In this case, it is the trash service for the whole town. They have two boys, they are hardworking boys slightly spoiled and most people know who they are. Also, there is a cousin the same age as the youngest boy. They are close and do everything together. Just like brothers. As older teens and adults, they would come into the restaurant at night from a night of snowmobiling or snowplowing. Of course, there were also the nights that they would come in after the bars closed.

So, here is the beginning of the story. The youngest boy and the cousin were not very happy with each other when they entered the restaurant. They were of age and had just come from the bars. As I walked them to their table, I heard mumblings about some woman but did not hear the whole thing. I left them to look at the menus.

Voices became loud and then there was shouting. I looked through the door into the dining room, just as I poked, my head out I saw plates and bodies flying.  The two had escalated to a fistfight. From somewhere a plate of fries and ketchup flew. It landed in the face and chest of a man sitting in a chair next to the cousins.  Shortly after this the youngest boy land in his lap. 

#Stay calm and clear-headed at all times.# That has always been my motto especial working in a bar rush. Now I had known these boys for years and knew they were good boys just drunk, young and had testosterone flying.

“What in the hell are you doing” I yelled at them.” Get off the floor and pick this shit up now,” I yelled at both of them. Apologize to this poor man and clean up this mess or I will call the cops. I did not really have to call the cops. One of them was already there. He had come in while I was seating them. He know them and was waiting to see what I did.  The rest were due to come in for break in a few minute anyways.

#Be a part of your community.# Also, be known as being a good person. Being a night waitress, I spent many hours sitting with the local law on their breaks. They knew me well and know I could handle things. Of course, I knew I could call them and they would be there in just a few minutes. One time a customer called the cops about an incident, another customer was being unruly.  I did not make the call so they did not come in right away. I was a little concerned but handled the unruly customer. The officer on duty came in an hour later for break. Why didn’t you come in when we were having a problem? ‘I asked.

“Because you did not call.” He said.” I heard the call but I figured you could handle it and if not I was right across the street. “I know if it got out of hand you would have called” He went on to say.

#The sordid side of life exists and there is nothing that can be done about it.# So just, get on with it and deal with it.  They only come out at night. People with their affairs, you also got vampires, yes vampires some of them had their teeth worked on to have extended fangs. There are also witches, warlocks, Goth and just your average nut cases. Some nights a regular parade would go on for hours. Forget diversity this was all of the other forms of life.  I do not know what their parents were thinking.

After the bars closed and the bar rush was over. Then the owners of the bars/strip clubs would come in. Sometimes the strippers themselves would come in. I always felt sorry for them; young pretty girls that just had a bad childhood.  As they sat there and discuss their events of the nights so did the law. Most time they talk amongst themselves. Occasionally they sat with the local law enforcement. Maybe discussing a new predicament, they had found themselves in.

 It was better than a soap opera. This was real life unfolding in front of you.  I sure miss those days. Really I do. I just do not miss staying up all night.

Life is hard and we need to laugh at ourselves. All of this took place over 20 years ago. I am sure all the vampires, witches and Goth are now executive somewhere or at least I hope so. Along with that, I hope the strippers are happily married with children. Again, I surly hope so.   

#Nothing is free.# Unless a plate of fries come flying into your lap and you get your meal on the house. Then again, it did cost you a new white shirt.

P.P.  Three years ago in the middle of February I need to find someone to dig us out with a bobcat. Our local plow guy could no longer plow the snow in our driveway. It was a record year for snow. An employee said she knew of a guy so I called him up. The name sounded familiar but then there were a lot of people with that last name. Sure enough it was the youngest boy. He gave me a discount for not sending him to jail that night.

 

 

Feeding Gods creatures

On my weekly shopping trip to my local grocery store, I was standing by the bulk isle. I was getting my supplies for my granola. One of the employees came up to the bin next to mine and said what a waste. This bin contained candied bananas and stuff. There was about 2 cups worth lying in the tray below it. (I am sure there were kids involved.)  "This is why the cost food is so expensive," she said. 

I just looked at her shrugged my shoulders and smiled.  It was a, I understand smile.  I remember when I worked there year ago and I took a tour of the facilities. The produce manager showed us around the dept. He took us back to where they put all the produce that was to ripe to sell. “We use to be able to send this to the local pig farm but now we cannot even do that anymore,” he grumbled.

I was surprised “why not” I asked, “what is wrong with pigs eating ripe produce?”

“Contamination or something like that” he said back.” I do not know why we cannot send it to the food shelf either” he went on to grumbling. “It is such a shame”. “I know they do send day old bead to the food shelf.” You could tell he was down hearted about the whole thing.

On the home front, I know I have a waste problem also. As I write this (well actually I did throw it out prior to writing this) have some kale (that has turned yellow) stuck in the back of the fridge. I put it in the compost bucket. That is taken to the compost bin though. It is outside where birds and other creatures can dig in and feed off what they want. All our food waste goes outside to feed God’s creatures. The crows really like it when I have a cake or bead that we really do not want to finish.  Therefore, I do not look at our food waste as anything more than feeding God’s creature.

I remember when my nieces and nephews were young (I love them dearly). They would come over and we would have family meals. Of course, we used plastic plates and plastic forks for convenience. Plastic utensils and plates can be recycled or washed and used again. My biggest problem was my nieces and nephews filling their plates and then just taking a small bite of everything. Then they would throw everything in the trash, food and all. There was enough food there to feed six people.

I think of this because of my day’s when food was scarce and I did not know where my next meal was coming from.  Thank God for the food shelf. The problem is what can be given to the food self. I stopped buying the prepackaged food shelf-bags.  Everything is processed food. Just because someone cannot afford food does not mean they do not care about what there is to eat. So, I buy canned tuna or salmon, canned vegetables, Jars of fruit and whole-wheat pastas.  I then put it in my local food bin box at the store.  I also volunteer at fare share. They give out fresh produce.  

Please help in the fight to stomp out hunger.


 http://mnfoodshare.gmcc.org/index.php

 

 

Real love

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

 Do you ever wonder what happened to the couple that rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after? I love a good romance movie. The good guy gets the girl in the end and they receive all the benefits of love. It is a world of eternal bliss. It makes me feel like all is right with the world. An added bonus, I feel more love towards the C.O. I would think this is a good sign. If I did not think we had a good relationship I would be like, “Why can’t you be that way”?
                                                                                    pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

 

Where the problem comes in is you never get to see what happens five or ten years down the line. I think that is why we have sequels. Shrek is a great movie.  I liked the premise of it. He is a big ugly ogre and she is the Princes.  Deep down Princes Fiona is just like him.  In addition deep down he is a Prince and a man of honor.

Princes Fiona concealed her true self from the world until she met him. Shrek let her know that he understood. He made Princes Fiona feel safe and alive.  She now was able to reveal herself as she really was to the rest of the world.

                                                                                        pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

Shrek 2 is also good. Most sequels are disappointing but Shrek 2 is good.  Shrek 3 I thought was overdoing it.

They say you have a better chance to live a long and healthy life when you are married or in a long-term relationship.  I have to wonder why.  My guess is because you want to outlive the other person just so you can say I win. Seriously, no I do not think that. It is because you take care of each other

In real life, couples get irritated with each other. The stresses of everyday life start chipping away at the magic invisible shield. The shield that keeps the outside world from touching the bond they share together.  

Nobody ever knows what is around the corner, sickness, death, betrayal.  I think this is why we like fantasy so much. It gives us hope. It reminds us of our own beginning of our current relationship. It gives us hope that there is love out there if we are not in a relationship.

 Relationships are hard, day in and day out. Heck, reality is hard and if the person you need to be there for you is sick, dead or worst of all a liar. A thief of your heart that takes it and  just stomps on it like it was nothing, it can take a big toll on you.

I know this is going to sound terrible bad of me. I have always thought it was romantic when a couple after being married for 50 plus years suddenly one of them dies. The other one follows within 6 months.  He or she could not live without the other. They were probable known to others as the Bickersons. Although, in their quite moments together, they were each other’s life, both depended on the other.  

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

I like to believe they rode off into the sunset hand in hand. Looking back and waving  goodbye. GOOD LUCK!  you can hear them shout out back to us.  And they lived happily ever after.
 

Moe

Pamela Richardson. BlogSpot.com

 
 
Moe

Moe, you are beautiful as beautiful as an African goose can be. Walking through the poultry barn at the state fair all the blue ribbon African Geese could not hold a candle to you.  In addition, looking at pictures of what a true African Goose is to look like is just like looking at you Moe. Standing tall with so much pride about you is a pleasure to watch. Your grace and beauty radiates about you.

After the goslings became adult, I think Daunte got tired of being in charge of the gaggle. He put Moe in charge, there was no fight no struggle for power. Moe took that to heart. He watches over the gaggle with pride. Neither a squirrel nor a chipmunk will infiltrate our space.  Havens forbid a crow land in the middle of the gaggle, as the rest lie sleeping.  All will be safe as long as I am in charge. Sleep, who needs it when the safety of the gaggle it at hand

Usually there are many fights between the males, especially in the spring. Most days we just ignore the fights. They are usually just something trivial like someone stepped on the others foot or looked at the other the wrong way. Pretty much, like children. Some are more violent and there is blood, not anything life threatening but can be cause for concern.  The C.O or I will intervene and send them to their corners for a time out.

Usually within an hour, everyone is back to normal and the fight forgotten. Life now is returned to the same old same old, should we go down to the pond or try to sneak up to the front yard. There is always one lagging behind as the scout. It is usually Midge, sounding a warning when one of us is spotted looking for them. ARRRRAACk.  As if, we cannot hear or see her.  All of a sudden, you will hear squawk, squawk, and squawk as they come around the garage one by one; acting like nothing is going on.  No, not us, we were not in the front yard.

Sometime when they are out in the field or in the back of the pond and we cannot see them. All we have to do is yell, WHAT. They will then give themselves away.  For some reason the word WHAT means something to them and they have to answer us back. SQUAWK!!! For every WHAT.

Sometime we go out and get them and sometimes we just say, “Get back here right now”. After a long discussion, they usually return in 20 minutes.

This is a sample of my goose story. Feel free to look around.

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What makes a champion?

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

A champion is someone that is motivated.  This champion is driven.  If you are a champion, you have a lot of ambition and purpose in what you do. Blah, blah, blah………….What really makes a champion and where do they come from.

Yah, yah, I have heard all that, but what really make a champion.  Who are these people?

 

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

A real champion comes from the depths of hell. Somewhere they have experienced or witnessed a great injustice. At this point, the choices are clear. Either shrivel up and blame themselves as somehow, this must be their fault...  or stand up and fight for what is right. The ones that stand up are the champions.

                                                                            pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

 

This will happen as soon as they escape their tormenter. In the case of seeing the great injustice, this may happen immediately.  They vow to themselves never to be in that position again, or allow this to happen to anyone else.  They also vow that they will work towards stomping out whatever is the great injustice.

How they go about it is up to them. They may make a lot of money and give to charities. Become great members in the community and lead legislations towards this goal. This may not happen immediately but when they have the chance. They have developed the mindset to set things right. Even the score as you would say.

These injustices come from poverty or ignorance.  There are so many evil in this world that run rampant.  They want to make it right. If not for themselves then for others.  


                                                                                                                                        pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

A champion will not talk about the evils that happened until probed. Then and only then will they talk about it. As tears are being fought back, a great pain will well up in their heart.  They know that even a small change will make a difference somewhere for somebody. It will help to heal their heart.  This is their motivation. This is why they are driven and why they have ambition and purpose

New to this world

I am new to this blogging thing. So far, I like it Love it in my element whoop whoop happy dance. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of it. All the advice you receive search out.  All the competition you have, although, I look at it as a way of connecting to people of the same interests. Moreover, people with different views. Maybe this is what I need.  Unfortunately, if you are not that Tec Savvy there are so many obstacles.  I like to learn new things but they change to fast for this 50-year-old brain.                                   pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

I have to ask myself where I want to go with this Blog. What do I want to achieve out of this whole experience.  Status?  Money?  Fame?  Not really but if it happens it happens. I rather doubt it though.

                             pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

Whom do I want as an audience? Who is my audience?  Who am I?  How do I express my thoughts? I do not want to sound whinny or insecure to other people.  Although, and if you have been reading my blog I think you know what I will say next. You guessed it. The C.O. already thinks I am whinny and insecure. Of course, his opinion does not really matter.

 How will it changed my life or will it? Will it improve my communication skills?  So far, yes. I do believe my writing skills and spelling are improving with each post. I have been reading many other peoples blogs. I have found many of them interesting. Of course, they are all personal blogs because I do not want to overload my brain with anything other than what I want.  After all it is an over 50 brain.

                              pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

This is a business, sure if I want to make money and who does not want to do that. I have reached out to some of the free promote your business/blog with us. A representative will can me and discuss all that they can do for me. They will ask “Mrs. Richardson what is your business”,” It is a personal blog I will reply.”  Here I am in limbo. I have only been doing this for 1 ½ months.  Of course, when the C.O. and I first started the business we are currently running, we invested money to get started.  I think there is a big different though. What are the right avenues? Do I spend money to promote my blog and why?  What is the rate of failure? Do some just give up or move onto a new beginning somewhere else.

Who are the people that feel the need to write a personal blog? Is it for the same reason as I?

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

I like to read the first post ever by successful blogs. Although I wonder if they have gone back and edited it many times after publishing it because they thought of a better way to say what they wanted to say. On the other hand, do they just let it rip and try to improve on the next one. I do not know about you but there is a few moments of doubt that what I just wrote was stupid and no one will like it.  I feel intimidated by professional looking about me pages. Although I mostly enjoy blogs about how others feel inadequate. I love all the communities and different opinions.

I think I will stay here awhile.

A man is only as good

A Man is Only as good as his word

You have to be a man of your word.  Man/woman whatever you are. I try very hard to keep my word but sometimes things happen beyond my control. It could be anything from forgetting to roll up the hose in the back yard to leaving the coffee pot on all day and burning the bottom of the pot. That has not ever really happened. It's just an example.

I will say, “It will never happen again.” Then six months a year go by and BAM it happens again. So at this point, I am no longer a woman of my word. I did say, “It will never happen again” didn’t I?

After all your word is everything.  That’s what relationships are based on right. Keeping your word. No matter what. This is just too difficult and to many things keep happening that are out of my control (my aging mind). A bird flew by and distracted me, I had to answer the phone or just the old “that wasn’t me” “I wasn’t even in the room.”  Whatever, it was me and I did it again. There is no way I can weasel my way out of it. I have to take it like a woman and admit it was me.  I did it and I promise, “It will never happen again.” Dam did I just say that again.

Sure, I tell little white lies just like the rest of you. Mostly just to get by and go along.  I don’t say anything that would damage anyone, sometime I do it to keep from damaging someone. That is the norm and very sociably acceptable. I think it is expected. You know, does he really need to know that I don’t like the pants he wearing. The pants that he really thinks are great looking on him. That’s just a courtesy; after all, he doesn’t need to know they are 25 yrs. out of style!!

From now on the words, “It will never happen again “will never again flow from my lips. I promise, “It will never happen again.”

This is my flow of things

Game addictions

I am proud to say. I have recovered from and I now am willing to talk about it.

Facebook game addiction.
http://www.avoidfacebook.com/2011/12/08/facebook-games-addiction-2/
 I was up to sustaining six games a day.
 (I know, I know)  how can any one do this? It started innocently enough. You know a game here and there.  It all started with Farmville.

When I first Joined face book I was excited. WOW, I can keep in touch with of my family and friends. I quickly set up my page and sent off invitations (friend request).  Like I really needed to friend my brothers and sister all I really need to do is call. WOHOO they want to be my friends. Now we can get down to business and have lots of laughs.

 Everyone was playing games. All I saw was game posts. Why are they not likening my posts? I thought. They are there (I can see them) but not one of them was paying attention to me.  

                                              pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

What is this Farmville stuff?  OUGGG! AHHH! I gave in. I downloaded my first app...  All of a sudden, everyone wanted to be my friend.

The C.O. went along with it for a while but started getting irritated. We would be in the middle of something and I would just jump up. I had to harvest my tulips so my teammates and I could move closer to the Top. We would win a prize. You know a Doodad that we could zing a ding on our page.  No real prize, just did not want to disappoint my friends that joined me in this (whatever project).

I have a competitive nature so I was always trying to get more levels then all my other friends. I mean really. I got to where I did not care if your son had a birthday party. I do not want to see the pictures, play Farmville already and ask for a dingy so I can give you one and get one in return.

My next adventure took me to Treasure Island. That was short lived, not my cup of tea

                                pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

Then came petville. I worried he was going to be put in the pound.  If I did not get in there and feed him on time.  Sometimes I would have to spend all my Kibbles (do not remember what they are really called) Just to keep him out of jail for one hour. I was stressed!

My worst addiction was My Tribe. I did not want them to die. Thank GOD!, I finally found the fountain of youth. They would live forever!  I could finally sleep at night. No one was going to die ever again.

These games are free and awesome, but are they really?

When my sons were little we always had Nintendo or whatever was the latest game doodad for them to play with. I let them play after the day was done and homework was finished and on the weekends.  One night as I was lying in bed I woke to a strange sound. Beep bop beep rrrammm beep. I got up to see what this could possibly be.  It was one of my sons playing a stupid game. “What are you doing?" I asked.

“I am Playing Zombies,” he mumbled back to me without his eyes leaving the screen.  His eyes all glazed over.  His fingers moved quickly over the game controller as he swaying back and forth.

I stood there in the doorway puzzled as to why anyone would be so obsessed “It 3:00 am in the morning get back to bed”. “Why do you want to play these crazy games all the time?” I asked.

One day while I was playing my games during the middle of the day one of my son’s girlfriends messaged me and wanted to chat. I said not now I only have a few minute to play my game. I do not want to be bothered.

Two minutes later, the phone rang.

“Mom what are you doing, your Busted!  HAHAHA” said my son.

I knew then I was addicted.  I am here to say that I know the evils of this innocent pass time. I know that there are people out there that can handle a little fix here and there. I am not one of them. It has been a long hard path but I can safely say I am now over my addiction.

Yes I do care if your son has a birthday and I do care if you had a bad day. Thank you all my Facebook friends for staying with me during my hard times. I will never use again

 

 

Serena Ryder - Stompa

We try so hard everyday to hold on to what we got. All we got is to be!
Took a twenty minute vacation around the lake in the middle of the day. This song came on and
all I had to do was BE. And enjoy! And don't ever forget it. So pick yourself up and hold your head up. What ever it is you will get though it. I know I will get though my newest dilemma.  It my blog and I will cry if I want to.

Not the brightest bulb

pamelarichardson.blogspot.com

She is not the brightest bulb in the bunch.  No, I am not. Thank god!  I do not suffer from that affliction. My three Grandfathers’, yes three. My two paternal grandfathers and one-step grandfather had high I.Qs. I loved them dearly; my father, my brother’s and one of my sisters have high I.Qs

Some people think that if you have a high I.Q that you will be able to succeed in anything. Not true, at least not in my experience. When you have a high I.Q, other people are boring. Life is boring and alcohol and drug abuse seem to go right along with this affliction. Ant-social behavior becomes the norm.  I am not saying that my relatives necessarily suffer from these afflictions.

 Most of them also had another form of intelligence. The other form of I.Q. is emotional intelligence. A man named Daniel Goleman wrote a book about it. It is in my library. Great book you should read it sometime.

Therefore, here is my take on an old proverb. 

The simple man comes home from his 8-hour job, greets his children, and asks his wife what is for dinner. Because he knows, they are important to him.

The complicated man comes home from his 10-12 hour job tortured from all the day’s events. If he even has a wife, he does not ask her what is for dinner. He cannot eat because he is to upset. If she is home, she is either an empty shell unable to do anything right in his eyes. She may also be just like him so she is off trying to figure out her own problems, and has no time for domestic stuff. If she is not like him, she is not there because she is trying to avoid the constant worrying’s of his mind. If he has children, they too are avoiding him. His mind is constantly spinning with why do things happen and how can he control them. Only to be unsuccessful in reaching any real answers.

The enlightened man comes home from his 6-8 hour job. Greets his children, kisses his wife and asks her what is for dinner. Because he knows this is the most important part of his life. The outside world can wait until tomorrow.

I had the privilege to get to meet Bill Alexander. I did not need his service he needed ours. He lived here near Stillwater. He is a wonderful man and now lives in California.


http://www.hazelden.org/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=12508

Making a pie crust

I cannot make a decent piecrust if my life depended on it. Well, maybe if my life depended on it I could meet the challenge

 My grandma Johnson was an artist. Her pies would have beautiful designs on them. It was almost a shame to cut into them and destroy the work of art. When you did cut into them, they were perfect. The inside was layered just right, picture perfect. In addition, the taste was always perfection.

Maybe it is because I feel I would never live up to her standards. Maybe I do not want to compete with the memories of her pies.  I know she is probable looking down on me saying, do it, I know you can. I cannot, I have a mental block.

Back in the days when women of her generation made pies, they made crust with lard. Of course, people do not use lard anymore. They use shortening.  Shortening is not good for you, so I use butter instead. Of course, that does not make a good piecrust.  It is not as flakey.

I have made crust with lard and it has tasted great. My problem is crimping the crust just right. My designs are also never as good as hers were, so I gave up. I said I have a mental block, I know it is not that hard.  Now I just use Pappy’s piecrust dough. Thaw it and roll it out. Works great.

I also cannot get anything less than a 15 on a par five when I go golfing with the C.O. That too is a mental block. As to why I have no idea.

I stand at the tee and try to talk myself up. First swing and it goes two feet to the left. I go over, start hitting it willy-nilly, and just get through it. Sometime I just stop counting and just swing.

We all have these little issues. I guess it just how you look at it. I do not take it too seriously. I just go on with my day.

 Have a happy fourth of July.

If your up to the challenge

Pie crust
3 cups flour
1 cup lard
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. vinegar
dash of salt
works best if water is hot and lard is cold
 

Honesty with self

Honesty with one’s self. This is a huge subject. . Being honest with one’s self is the hardest honesty of them all. It is better to blame others then look at ourselves.  I guess I cannot be very honest with others either unless I start being honest with myself.

 I had a frenemy once and she would say she was going to Egypt because she liked D-Nile.   I always respected her humor and courage.  She got the promotion that I wanted. This is why she was my frenemy.   In retrospect, I did not deserve the promotion because she had been there longer. In addition, she was prettier and skinnier then me, and partied with the manager.   That would have been the reason; it could not have been my fault. That I just did not live up to the job.  Maybe we should all live in D-Nile so we can get through the day.

So maybe, sometimes I should put it out there, you know honestly look at myself. Turn it around look at it from all side, check under the hood, kick the tires and then put it back. After all, completely looking at it all at once is a heart attack/anxiety attack just waiting to happen. If I can take it in small steps, just inch my way to the truth, and then do something about it one-day at a time, I would make some headway, but for most days, it is best to be at the D-Nile laying in the sun and listening to the sounds of nature