Glo's Garden

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup

who has become a hidden treasure.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

an intro to baking for kids.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

Saturday, June 10, 2017

"THE MUMMY": A Review

I love the movies. All kinds of movies. I am not too crazy about horror movies, but I have seen some I can honestly appreciate. I will say I am drawn to Chick Flicks and am very happily married to a guy who likes them too. We also love the action movies, especially the ones with the over the hill actors. There are some movies that I say, "Why did I watch that all the way through". Today I will say I had that experience.

We have a theater which has morning matinees for $5. We headed out and had an extremely mediocre breakfast from Hardees. The Biscuit on the bacon, egg, and cheese was very over cooked. The bread on the Frisco sandwich was not toasted so it led to a very doughy experience.

We arrived at the theater just as the previews began. I will say there are quite a few very interesting movies coming out. One was "Meagan Leavey". This is not a movie we will be seeing. I could hardly sit through the preview. We are animal lovers and have a son who is ex military. My heart was in my throat and I could hear my hunny sniffing. I will definitely tell my Daughter not to see it. The old Lassie movies bring her floods of tears.

Wonder Woman finally lit up the screen. It was a movie which leaves you with a good feeling. It is not a movie you would need to see on the big screen to get the full effect (Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2 are). When we left theater we had to walk down the corridor, to the exit on the far side of the show. We noticed that at 12:30 "The Mummy" was showing. I looked at hunny and he looked at me, we decided it would be a two feature day. We had only missed the previews before the show.

This show made me wonder why I wasted 2 hours of my life to watch it. Cruise and the girl (I don't know the actress's name) Not only didn't exhibit chemistry, but they acted very poorly, IMO. To me it was stilted, like they were reading from a teleprompter. Then along came Russel Crowe...whoops, where did he learn to act. This definitely was not his perfect genre.

The story line is nothing but knockoffs of the Brendan Frazier Mummy movies. The first theft was with the Character "Beni". The new Schlemiel was a Schlemiel in his representation of the person (I can't even remember the name of him). There was too much "plagiarism" to list. The movie was a very immature copy of it's predecessor.

All the Brendan Frazier's Mummy movies did not steal my heart. The first Mummy did, it is the only movie I've ever paid to see twice. I also purchased the DVD's of the movie.

If you have not watched the three movies please treat yourself to renting them (If you can find a rental place). Or To purchasing them, they have been out long enough they should be in the cheap section.

This is an excerpt about Brendan's Mummy from Rotten Tomatoes who gave it a 75% audience rating:

Loosely adapted from the classic 1932 horror film starring Boris Karloff, The Mummy is set in Egypt, where over 3,000 years ago the high priest Imhotep (played by Arnold Vosloo) was given the all-important assignment of preparing the recently dead for their journey into the afterlife. However, Imhotep made one terrible mistake - he became smitten with Anck-Su-Namun, the mistress of the Pharaoh himself. Driven mad by jealousy and love, Imhotep murdered the Pharaoh, and his punishment was to be buried alive and suffer the torment of an eternal life in his wretched tomb. In 1925, a band of adventurers seeking fame and fortune - led by Rick O'Connel (Brendan Fraser), an American expatriate who has joined the foreign legion, and Evelyn Carnarvon (Rachel Weisz), an amateur archeologist - find a previously unknown burial site in Egypt. The team starts to dig, hoping to find lost riches, but instead they disturb the tomb of Imhotep, and soon the cursed priest rises from his grave to wreck vengeance on humanity. The Mummy was written and directed by Stephen Sommers, whose previous cinematic journeys into the past include The Jungle Book and The Adventures Of Huck Finn. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating:

PG-13 (for pervasive adventure violence and some partial nudity)
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Stephen Sommers
Written By:

Stephen Sommers
In Theaters:

Jun 1, 1999 Wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Sep 28, 1999
Runtime:

125 minutes
Studio:

Universal Pictures

In news the TV reviews said it was a summer sleeper. At the time we couldn't figure why people weren't swarming the theaters. The last time we re watched the "The Mummy". I remember thinking how the special effects did not seem hokey (because of the advances in new technology, the older movies sometimes seem Hokey).

I just went and looked and Half.com has the 3 disk set for $.75 plus shipping.

I wish we hadn't stayed for the second feature. We felt cheated and wanted to ask for our money back and be paid for the two hours time. The ten dollars could have bought me a DVD of a movie I thoroughly enjoyed.

Other blog sites by me:

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup

who has become a hidden treasure.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

an intro to baking for kids.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

Saturday, June 3, 2017

WONDER WOMAN

"OUR WONDER WOMAN"

There have been numerous women in my life who could fill the shoes of "Wonder Woman". They didn't need Arm bands or shields.

They had the strength of their convictions. Compassion in their souls. They knew what the right thing was and did it.

They were born in times of stress. They had to work hard for what they wanted, nothing was given to them.

The first one I met when I was only a baby. I didn't realize till I was a woman myself that she was this amazing woman. She was my mom. She organized a household for six children, Making sure they were given the opportunities to grow and become all they could be. Of course this was in the age of Ozzie and Harriet and that was what a "woman" was supposed to do. To sum up my growing up I never missed a day when I didn't sit at the breakfast table.

Along came My Great Aunt Flora. I don't remember if I met her when I was younger but I do remember when I was ten or so, going to her home. On this trip we visited her store. Yes, "Her" store. She owned a hardware store. To me it was gigantic. I don't know if it was or if it was just a little neighborhood store. She owned and ran it. She talked about all the tools (talked to me as if I was an adult). It was like she thought I understood what she was saying.

We returned to her home. She had a small hobby farm with chickens and a big garden. She had the most marvelous tractor parked in her garage. It was a Cub Cadet. Its name fascinated me and the fact she drove it and mowed her lawn with it, I stood there filled with awe.

From that big garden she served us lunch. She had canned green beans before we arrived. I remember thinking, how did she learn to do everything.

She was born in the age of "Flappers". There was a great pix of her in her favorite outfit on her dresser. I stared at it wondering what wonderful parties she had been to wearing it.

She had survived the great depression running her hardware store.

Years went by filled with several women whom I would call wonder women. Women who dedicated their lives to their families and making time for others. One of these women was Louise Goldman. She was woman of the year in St. Louis. We met her through teaching her Children in Religious School. She was one of the most unselfish people I have ever met.

Then there came a small little Lady who didn't know when she was born because she had been an orphan. Her sister had told her she was 16 so she could marry her off and inherit the family's belongings. This was in 1889. I met her when she was about 80. Our Children were four and five years old. I saw her goats out in the field and drove up the drive to find out who owned them (We owned a herd of goats).

We were met at the gate by a lady with a 22 rifle, Octagon barrel. Telling us to get back down the road. I explained I only was wondering whose Goats those were. It's a long story, which I need to write down. This woman became an adopted grandmother to our kids. Helping us to teach them the meaning of unconditional love. Our Granddaughter carries her name.

Today is our Daughter's Birthday. She joins my list of Wonder Women. She began her career as a kennel cleaner, working forty hours a week at the age of fourteen. She was in the Corporate world for 20 years and now she is working as an event planner. She did this without a Bachelors degree in anything. She worked while having two wonderful children.

Our Birthday wish for our Daughter is: That she too, has "Wonder Women" in her life.

Other blog sites by me:

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup

who has become a hidden treasure.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

an intro to baking for kids.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

ARE WE AMERICANS?

An unsettled world seems to becoming more unsettled each day. It is like we are balanced precariously on the edge. I was perusing some of my writings. I came across this poem I wrote July 4, 2007. It brought to mind several news events lately.

Since I wrote this, in 2016 our son retired after 30 years in the navy. His last couple of years were spent on the USS Carl Vinson. He didn't want to retire but it was mandatory. I am thanking G-d that he retired. His Ship is now in the Pacific, out side North Korea. Where unsettled is the middle name of the country.

We still have racial tensions.

We still have women striving to be equally evaluated in the workplace.

We are still judging new arrivals by their religious affiliations.

This poem addresses why we are who we are and why we should question anything which threatens to remove our "freedoms" and the compassion which accompanies them.

I thank My son, the friends of my son, the parents of all the sons and daughters who are risking their lives to insure our freedoms.

"Where would we be today?"

Do you think of where you might be today,
If, the Patriots had not stepped up to say,
They wanted deliverance from England's rule,
Had they not fought the ultimate of duels?

What would've happened if the south had their way,
Would we be a nation, which half would be slaves,
Would we welcome those from far away shores,
Or would we be separatist closing our doors?

This nation, would it's voice be as loud,
If the suffragettes had not been so proud,
What if they hadn't stood up for their rights,
Where would women be without that fight?

A new nation, born under the stars,
Supporting the rights of others, near and far,
Sharing our wealth, which is more than monetary,
Providing a home for the down trodden and weary.

Have you thought of what you'd be doing today,
Would you have to do it another way,
If others hadn't stepped up to the plate,
Would today already be too late?

In this country of ours where would you live,
Would you have the freedom to give,
A welcome to someone of another race,
Or would each of us be wearing the same face?

Think about it, about this country, from sea to sea,
Would you have the choice of where you would be?

Have a wonderful fourth, celebrate, remembering those that have gone before us to give us this day. We will remember our Uncle Ben, a man so shy and meek but a giant when he served in Italy in World War II. We will remember the child he protected while there, only to leave her, wondering if she grew up to be married and have children. We will remember these things, knowing we have a son in the navy who protected others in the Middle East and is waiting to be called if needed to protect us, and our freedoms.
July 4, 2002

Other blog sites by me:

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup

who has become a hidden treasure.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

an intro to baking for kids.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

THRIFT SHOP VISIT

I make regular stops at my local Thrift shop. Most of the times I find great necessaries for the kitchen. Maybe some replacement dishes for my sets of china. Yes you hear correctly. China in the plural. You see my hunny has "asked" me not to bring home anymore dish sets. He request with a sigh and a look. I love dishes and there are only the two of us.

I also look for gizmos which other people have grown tired of, such as, George Forman grills, Pans that have hardly been used, baking items. Last trip I acquired a brand new Oster waffle iron. It had never left the box. The tissue paper was still between the grills.

I always thought this was stuff people grew tired of, which had been put out for a garage sale and it hadn't sold. It was like the old saying, "One man's junk is another Man's treasure." This last trip opened my eyes and actually brought tears to my eyes.

The first item I came across which brought a fleeting sad thought to my mind was a stack of almost new spring form pans, 3 different sizes. I thought why would a baker use these pans once or twice and then discard them. I've never had new ones, only the hand-me-down tin ones. I use them very seldom and couldn't rationalize the cost of the new ones. I just made do with the ones I had.

I imagined that someone had to "down size" and this was the least used item which took up the most space and then I continued browsing through the store. I couldn't even fathom another circumstance which would make some one part with their great pans.

Down the isle and in the back, the store has incidentals. Things like nick knacks, appliances, lamps, and various odd pieces. There, hanging on the end of a shelf was dog collars and leashes.

The size of them, they were just the right size for my "puppy". (He has his own blog.)

The one leash was enormous and you could tell that it had been well used, but was still in excellent shape. I thought, "This will be great for Boych". Then it hit me, "Why was this leash here?" "Where is the dog which used this?"

I hope this is like the case of the lady who downsized her kitchen in her move, and she couldn't take her big baby with her so he went to another loving home. Then I thought,

"What happens to my pots and pans and all the things I treasure?

When will I no longer need this leash?"

Other blog sites by me:

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup

who has become a hidden treasure.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-big-easy-oiless-turkey-fryer.html

an intro to baking for kids.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

BIG EASY TURKEY FRYER, VENISON

On December 31, 2016, we ushered in the new year using our
CHAR-BROIL BIG EASY TURKEY FRYER for the second time. It continually amazes us. Yes this is another product endorsement!!

Hanging in the basket you see the Venison leg from a 10 point buck we harvested on our property this year. (Three deer were taken from here in 12 hours). It made up for last year when we and our hunter friend didn't even see one deer during all the deer seasons.

The leg (I didn't weigh it) weighed appx 5 pounds. We cooked it for an hour and 45 minutes. I checked it at an 75 minutes using the suggestion for beef of 15 minutes a pound. The Thermometer said 140. I left it another 30 minutes and whoops the thermometer read 165. I thought we had over-done it. Nope, the thickest part of the leg was medium rare next to the bone. It was gorgeous (It may have weighed more than the 5 lbs). It was juicy (Deer legs do not have much fat on them). What did we do to prepare it? Not a thing except use a small amount of the rub I had made for the Turkey in this blog:

I think I could have studded it with garlic cloves in the thickest part.

The light application of rub was perfect.

To support the roast in the basket I used several skewers and rested them on the bars of the basket.

They weren't long enough to reach from side to side in the basket. The skewers were to hold it upright so no part would be touching the sides of the basket putting it closer to the walls. My theory was it would cook more evenly if it was dead center.

Would I do anything different with the next leg? Yes, I would hang it with the larger end up. Why, because when reading (googling the cooker) I have read the cooker is hotter at the top. That would keep the narrower end from being over done and I would be able to put the lid on and cook the thicker end faster. Mind you the above is just a theory, but I do have a couple of more legs to experiment with. (The dog loved the terribly over-done bits on the narrow end.)

You can see in the picture, the basket still looks brand new. I am sure wiping the rungs with an oil saturated paper towel made the clean up a breeze. I only had a couple of places I used steel wool and I could have probably gotten the places clean with one of those rough scrubby sponges. (BTW Dollar tree has the best buy around for Steel wool pads. They are smaller so you don't feel bad about throwing them away if they start rusting.) BTW, you can put the baskets in the dishwasher on their side and even put stuff inside to wash. It gets hidden grease off.

Clean up in the barrel...easy peazy. I used a wooden spoon when we took out the basket and scraped up the hot drippings..left them in the bottom of the barrel till it cooled....it gets hot having your arm down in there....even with the gas off. When cool I removed the barrel and put a tablespoon of oil in the bottom and further scraped with a wooden spoon the bottom. The oil helped to lift the scrapings off the bottom. Then I took more oil soaked paper towels and wipe the sides thoroughly and cleaned out the bottom of extra oil and burned drippings. Then I took a clean paper towel and wiped off the excess remaining oil, leaving a light film for protection.

After this experience I recommend this item as the ultimate gift for your hunting significant other.

I can't wait to try it with a plain old chicken and some foil covered sweet potatoes.

Other blog sites by me:

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup

who has become a hidden treasure.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html