Hunters and Trackers

Fischer and Tracker observe their world unnoticed by all but the most observant.

This week they brought us a squirrel, 3 baby possums, and a vole. In addition I saw tracker with chipmunks in his mouth on two separate occasions. He must have others with whom he shares his delicacies.

Dad is in western PA for a meeting today; home before bed tonight. Then, we are looking forward to getting in on some of that beach time Debby has me drooling over.

Tea and Parties

I've been a little intimidated by the condescending attitude taken by many towards what is now considered to be a movement.

Well, I stumbled on an article which details surveys by Gallup and the Winston Group. (I copied 3 charts from the article.)

The bottom line is that people who identify with the tea party movement reflect the larger population more than one might think from listening to the news. The tea party group follows the general population by education, employment status, race and age. (There are slightly more men, and the average income is slightly higher)

Although 70% are conservative (30% call themselves moderate or liberal), only 49% call themselves Republican. The remainder are Independents and Democrats.

I went to the tea party meeting in Chattanooga last summer, and i strongly identify with what I have heard of the movement. And I think it is a healthy phenomenon--good for the country.

Don't let anyone tell you it is a racist group or a right wing group. It's just people who think the country has gone too far, and there's too much meddling in our lives.

love you guys

Debby-inspired Bread-making

Now that we've eaten baby bunny bread and it was good, I'll tell the rest of the story. When I was about to shape the dough into a bunny, a light went on and I realized that I had left the honey out of what we call "Honey Bunny Bread" Oops. So I measured the honey and tried to incorporate it into the already-sticky dough. Pretty messy. I dumped it back into the mixer and added a bit more flour. TaDahh. It mixed in just fine and on i went with the process.

And the bread was good.

A metaphor for our lives as Christians? We mess things up good, but there is forgiveness, and when final meal is set, all will be well.

HE IS RISEN. RISEN INDEED.

I wouldn't have made bunny bread this year except that Debby has inspired me to incorporate bread-making into a week's routine.

Now here is a recipe that Debby found and sent to me. Yesterday I started it at 5 p.m. and we left with one of the warm loaves a bit before 7. During risings I was able to shower, clean up the kitchen and get ready to go out. The bread was a hit at dinner.

I adapted it a bit, and it is so easy that I want to pass it on.

Easy French Bread

(It makes 2 small loaves but recipe may be doubled to make 2 large or 4 small loaves. One small loaf serves 4)

Proof Yeast

1T yeast

¼ c warm water

1 t sugar

Mix

1 c warm water

1 T olive oil

1 T honey

Combine

3 to 3 ½ c (white) bread flour

1 t salt

Combine yeast, honey, and flour mixtures. Mix well with dough hook.

Knead 8 minutes.

Cover and allow to rise in bowl until double.

Punch down then allow to rest 10 - 15 minutes.

Divide dough. On floured surface, roll into rectangles.

Roll up from long edge.

Place loaves on greased cookie sheet, make slashes diagonally across top.

Allow to rise until double.

Brush with:

melted butter

Bake @ 400º for 20 minutes

I quit baking bread because of Debby. I was concerned that yeast spores, prevalent in a home where bread is baked frequently, was contributing to a health problem she was having. And now, 25 or so years later, I am having a blast baking bread, thanks to Debby's inspiration.

love you guys,

mom

Easter and Spring and Strawberries

Made Baby Bunny Bread today by halving the Honey Bunny recipe. It looks fine; hope it meets the taste test in the morning.

Wednesday there was no sign of phlox... a favorite spring flower. Thursday a few buds were visible and today I spotted the first signs of blue. Wednesday and Thursday I wondered with the cold winter if there would be strawberries. Friday morning... nothing, by noon there were a few buds, and by the end of the day there were a dozen or more. Today a few of the blooms had already set, as in... you could see tiny berries, the size of a pinkie nail. Now for apple blossoms!

Happy Spring to all. Give thanks to the One who bore our sins and rose again on the third day.

love you guys, mom

It's been worse

Too young to remember, or have you forgotten?

16% Inflation

22% Interest Rate

70% Marginal Tax Rate

14% Unemployment

10 Former Friends Fall to our worst enemy

The Collapse of Iran

for 144 Days 53 American Hostages Held by Iran

41 Republicans in Senate

THAT WAS 1978

In 1979: Revolution through the Ballot. Ronald Reagan elected president

Republicans take back the Senate.

There is hope.

Next time: what I have heard on the dem’s strategy to maintain power.

For Now: We live our lives with a determined confidence that God is good no matter what happens.

Love you guys

Health Care

Jamey promised a health care rant coming up. While waiting for him, here are my thoughts:

I Listened to Newt Gingrich this morning, and this is my summary:

Picture the New Health Care this Way:

Your Daddy gives you a brand new car on your birthday.

Looks pretty good.

The next month you learn he hadn’t paid for it and in fact you will get a monthly bill and further he got a really bad deal and you will have to pay about four times the value of the car.

Suddenly that birthday doesn’t look so good.

States will find themselves saddled with unfunded mandates that will take money from other budget items: education, highways, universities, the environment, whatever.

We will see fewer doctors entering practice, doctors retiring at younger ages, more underfunded hospitals dropping medicare patients. There will be longer lines and fewer options.

Here’s a cute one: the student loan provision of the Health Care Bill requires loans to be made through a government entity rather than through individual banks. The government will borrow money at around 2% and make loans at 6%. Next fall students will find their loans cost more.The Budget Office credited the expected profit against Health Care Bill costs.

According to Gingrich, the sum of Obama policies will bring us $8 Trillion additional debt for our children and grandchildren.

Challenge for conservatives today is to make known the massive debt that will be brought on us by Obama policies. If we can make this message known, the tide may be turned.

Gingrich said that progressives will attempt to paint opponents to The Administration as angry racists.

All I can say is that the primary appeal to me of conservative principles is my care for the poor and the marginalized. I want all people to have freedom and opportunity, so that if they choose to work hard, they can advance themselves. This is only possible under limited government.

End of Rant (for now anyway)

Life is still good. God is always good. Have a nice day and look for chances to advance conservatism. Have fun doing it.

Love you guys.

Dad and I just decided to really whoop it up this St Patricks Day. We're going to split a black and tan.