I've Been Meaning to Pay Attention to This

but I haven't gotten around to it.

Apparently, some smart woman has figured out the our obesity problem can be solved if women were subsidized by the gov'ment to stay at home and cook home cooked meals. I'll do some research. I think The Grey FemiNazi Paper of Record saw fit to publish her opinion, but I haven't read it. So I can't, in good conscious, trash it.

The criticisms I've read focus on time. Who has time to cook?

Again, I've not read the op-ed so I am in no position to opine. 

But I can tell you about Friday supper, here at the Farm.

Filet Mignon on the grill. Rosemary sauteed potatoes.

I'm just a housewife vegetable farmer with a knack for statistics who loves crappy old books. But Mr. Big Food is the Real Deal. He has a Real job.

I picked Mr Big Food up at his Real job and we proceeded to do the rest of our errands, including a spot of grocery shopping.

And wouldn't you know, he said to me on the way home, "Hey. How 'bout we not go out to eat? How about I grill these filets?"

And I said, "How about some rosemary sauteed potatoes?"

Will it never end?

I've spent the last 30 minutes drinking coffee, eating waffles, fussing at the dogs and wandering around the world-wide-web. Nothing but bad news out there. And now this from Krauthammer at National Review Online

"That’’s what history advises..."

SERIOUSLY? Do they not have spell check at NRO? That''s the third sentence-- the first of the second paragraph-- and no one caught it?

Well, fortunately there''s a remedy for this madness-- at least for me. I''m going to put my boots on, holster a sidearm, leash up the dogs, and walk outside and spit. 

Heh.

via instapundit.com

POLL SHOWS ENGLAND WANTS ITS GUNS BACK: “The United Kingdom is often held up as a successful example of gun control by those on the left. But a recent poll by the Daily Telegraph, one of England’s most widely-read publications, shows Britons themselves are far from sold on the laws.”

 From the link:

In a poll asking readers what laws they would like to see introduced or changed, an overwhelming number of voters chose “repeal the ban on hand guns and re-open shooting clubs.”

"Overwhelming": 84.5%

"Ban spitting" got 2.5%.

Nice to see those Brits haven't lost sight of their priorities.

Did you know that out here in Flyoverland, USA we can spit and carry a gun at the same time?

Forget About the Book!

There's a game to play!


Well dang. I see I cannot forget about the book.

Rocky's Head Is Under My Desk,

and Missy's Laying Over There

So I was chatting with Tony the other day and he was telling me about his next book. 

And I am excited to see what sort of Royalties Tony's last book generate.

And then we got to talking about Mr. Big Food's next book.

And it occurred to me that I don't have a book. If I did have a book I'd ask 

Kat, who wrote a book on photo editing, to prepare Daughter C's original illustrations for my book-- in whatever medium she chooses to do them-- for inclusion in my delightful little book about... ? ...  that will come out in some medium. ebook? A vanity press? 

No matter. After some thought, here's the book:

Farm Manners: The Guide to Gracious Living Through the Ages


Co-authored & edited by Miss M. Illustrated & edited by Daughter C. Remixed, Colorized & edited by Kat. 

I Was Just Saying "Good night" to Rocky,

when Daughter C walked in and caught me saying, "Good night" to Rocky.

Rocky's spending the night in the Front Room. Mr. Big Food, Missy & I will be back here in the back.

We started the day with waffles.

Some people were eating breakfast at about the same time of days others were eating lunch, but it worked out.

And after we ate,

we did some things

that make us happy.

I liked this exchange.

I made note of it.

Here's what was going on before:

Mr. Bow Tie was wantin' to shoot Max's gun.

Oh. There's a trick.

That's why when you zoom in on the first photo, it's so cool.

Look at the way they hand off that loaded sidearm.

And then they tie dyed and Kyle did his chore and tie dyed and then we ate.

Burgers either provolone or.... pepper jack cheese, hot dogs, two different kinds and I can't remember the distinction. Potato Salad (vegan). Leftover Slaw. And a whole lot of condiments. I'd forgotten about the radish relish from last year. It's good on a dog. Hot dog.

The last couple of weeks have been good for the dogs. Thank you for your patience and indulgences.

Good night, Rocky!

The Circus Has Come to The Farm

CALL NOW!

We're tryin' to feed Them Circus Folk good, don't Ya' know?

Slaw (vegan)

Foreground, fried sweet potato fries (vegan); Background, left, tartar sauce, right, remoullada.

Catfish

The dessert was really good. I'm having a second slice.

So I'm having some issues.

I need to consult with my consultant about these issues.

These are computer issues. Which is why you saw

="" p="">

in that last post. I tried hard to get it out. But as I said, I'm having computer issues.

Fortunately, I have a go to guy.

The Go-To Photo.

Did I mention that Max & Kyle will be arriving shortly?

Let's see if this works.

Max & Kyle

are due to arrive in <30 minutes.="" p="">
I'm sure the visit will be memoriable.

Latin for All Occasions

I couldn't resist passing this along. It seems that we Redneck Gun-Totin' Country Mice out here in rural Mississippi are smarter than David Cameron, the British Prime Minister. Steyn:

Appearing on David Letterman’s show a while back, Cameron was unable to translate into English the words “Magna Carta,” which has quite a bit to do with that “British way of life” he’s so keen on. 

Hey, David! Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant, you idiot!

Oh. Wait. That's already happened.  

[Latin translation from Latin for All Occasions by Henry Beard, Villard Books, New York, 1990, p65, "Useful curses"]

Unacceptable

Via Instapundit.com:

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? The Government Wants A Backdoor Into Your Communications. “According to the New York Times, President Obama is ‘on the verge of backing’ a proposal by the FBI to introduce legislation dramatically expanding the reach of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA. CALEA forces telephone companies to provide backdoors to the government so that it can spy on users after obtaining court approval, and was expanded in 2006 to reach Internet technologies like VoIP. The new proposal reportedly allows the FBI to listen in on any conversation online, regardless of the technology used, by mandating engineers build “backdoors” into communications software.”

Let's review:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And:

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probably cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

And just for fun:

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage other retained by the people.

II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, and X here. 

Remembering

Suzy

GIANT

Red Mustard Greens

These are good. Mr. Big Food cook up a mess of them with peanut sauce last evening.

Back to work. I'm behind.

Safe & Sound

Kat & Tony are safe & sound back in their home. We at the Farm miss them already. I'll especially miss them tomorrow morning. I enjoyed our morning coffee chats. Thank you. (Kat & Tony say "Thank you" a lot. It's contagious.)

I'm now sorry I didn't take more photos. (I look forward to seeing those others took.)

From the folder "Chores." Pay attention. I'll have more to say about chores.

[We really need to paint the kitchen. (And the cobbler really needs to make his own kids some shoes.)]

Speaking of painting...  which leads to thinking about art... .

 

By Soon Ee

 Thank you, Soon Ee, for coming out to the Farm to meet Kat & Tony.
 

I Have Nothing Clever To Say

I'm exhausted. 

Okay. 

Oh! I know what would be fun.

If You Trust the NOAA RADAR images

these storms, too, shall pass.

The problem, of course, is that these days you can't trust anyone with a $5,500,000,000 annual budget who's over/under the age of 30.

If it weren't actual thunderstorm & lightning very very frightening out there, I'd be skeptical about this image.

I note that Rocky is on edge.

No. 5? No. 5?

Here you go:

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

[My emphases] 

I, myself, have never had to invoke my Fifth Amendment Right against self-incrimination because I have never broken the law. 

Speaking of which we-- Caroline & Mr. Bow Tie, Kat & Tony, The Librarian, Mr. Big Food & I-- went to see a picture show this evening! Neither Mr. Big Food nor I have been to a picture show theater in a long time. I wasn't sure what to expect regarding No. 2. 

After we'd gotten out tickets, we-- everyone except Mr. Bow Tie-- loitered around the entrance awaiting Mr. Bow Tie's arrival. While I loitered, I carefully read every single sign and paid particular attention to The Rules.

I pulled up my pants. I took off my hat. I turned off my cell phone.*

After having made these minor adjustments, when Mr. Bow Tie arrived I was able to just stroll into the theater.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable show. No one messed it up by yelling "Fire!" 

*Tony did have on a questionable T-Shirt. It said, "Freedom." No one at the theater in Starkvegas found No. 1 offensive so he was able to just stroll in, too. 

SNAKE! WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS POST IF PICTURES OF HARMLESS SNAKES SCARE YOU

Miss M and Mr. Big Food arrived home this afternoon-- Kat & Tony were still in the City of Starkvegas, Daughter C and her entourage had departed early this morning. Miss M and Mr. Big Food commenced the kitchen debriefings (what I need to know about their respective days) and we fell back into our routine.

I tied Missy out. Miss M desired to smoke a cigarette on the patio and was moving toward satisfying that desire.

And then, as Miss M tells the story, she screamed, "Holy s&*%! We're all going to die!"

I did not actually hear her scream that, but I did hear a summons, "MOM!"  And I did hear Mr. Big Food call out, "Marica! You gotta see this."

What's a curious person to do? I gotta see it.

It's not a stick.

Thanks to Daughter C for providing the scale.

Here, Miss M brought Missy inside. We are a responsible lot. Better safe than sorry.

We watched it for a while,

tried to take some detailed photos,

and decided that it was a grey rat snake. A good guy.

Until it decided to slither vertically up behind the exterior walls of the bunkhouse.

I ended my evening speckling a mouse-sized hole in Miss M's room. As recent events have warned, you can never be too cautious about the behavior of the underbelly of nature.

My guess is that even a stupid snake can follow up on its desire to not be behind exterior walls. So I'm guessing the damned thing will figure out how to get out. But I'm not a snake.

What do I know?

I wonder what the dogs think,

don't you?

Their routine has been shattered. We didn't even play Frisbee today.

There were all these people and they all, to some degree, loved the dogs, and then, for several hours, it was like it was a few days ago. Kinda quiet.

AND THEN POOF! THERE THEY ALL ARE AGAIN.

And then it's back to normal.

and then

Let's go to town to see a pictures show!

Ye Haw!

 And the dogs will be alone for the better part of the day.

And then we will return home.

~~

The dogs are being tested.

They've done okay so far. Rocky is better than Missy along some dimensions. Missy is better along others.

As a pair of dogs who had no prospects for a good life before they came to the Farm, I think we are doing okay at providing them a better life. The Good Lord knows we are trying.

Vicious Pitt Bull.

Don't Get Me Wrong

they are my favorite people.

But being among my favorites does not absolve them from their chores.

Kat & Mr. Bow Tie tidying up the kitchen. Tony grinning.

Kat tidying up the kitchen. Mr. Bow Tie grinning.

Kat & Mr. Bow Tie tidying up the kitchen. Tony and M having a deep conversation.

Kat & Mr. Bow Tie tidying up the kitchen. Miss M posing.

... .

I've grown soft.

It's time to bring out the Chain Saws.

Belated Welcome!

If I had to whittle my list of favorite people of all time down to five, I'd be happy to report that, tonight, they are all under one roof.

So to speak. It's a stretch to call what some of them are sitting under a "roof." It's lacking in structural integrity.

Dang. It's a metaphysical roof.

 Welcome Kat & Tony!

It's One Thing to Have Less Items, It's Quite Another to Have Less People

AND 

People (pl) A Teacher (sing)

How the heck does this not grate on your ear enough to make you want to scream out loud?

Headline: 

FEWER PEOPLE WANT TO BE TEACHERS

Well, no wonder. If this is what you have to work with. People with no ears. 

Fewer items post here.

Mixed Grill

Grilling all dietary preferences

Something for everyone. 

Chicken marinated in ...  let me see if I can remember. Butter. Oregano. Red wine vinegar. Leftover red French dressing. And some other stuff.

Tofu seasoned with "Slap Ya Mama" seasoning.

Broccoli with garlic, leftover leftover red French dressing, and some other stuff.

Served at ~9:30-- when Kat and Tony arrived-- with a home grown salad.

It's almost 11. Mr. Big Food, Rocky, Missy & I have called it a day. 

Daughter C, Miss M, Kat & Tony are still out there giggling. 

Big Life.

Just Another Day Down on The Farm

 

 

Truth be told, it's not just another day down on The Farm. In less than 10 hours Kat & Tony will be here! Yea!!

Nostalgia

April 15, 2009. Fountain Square, Cincinnati, Ohio.

You are seeing my point.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[my emphasis]

Reading List (Updated)

You may have heard that some federal government agents of our employees have taken an interest in what United States citizens we-- their employers-- are reading. Here's my partial list, in case anyone's interested.

Good Lord! I missed one!

The Founders' Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders & Most Eloquent Words of the American Founders, Matthew Spalding, ed., The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C., 2002.

Added: It's worse than I'd feared. It appears I've missed cataloging an entire shelf-- a shelf that contains nothing but crappy old books about US history. 

Hummm. I wonder how I might implement a system of checks and balances into my book cataloging system?

UPDATE: Problem fixed. I wonder how many other crappy old books will speak up an let me know I missed them?