Tranquility Base

Now that I no longer suffer from the debilitating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome pain, I try to not pass up an opportunity to work outside. Today was almost perfect: slightly cool, light breeze, sunny blue skies. Excellent painting weather too except for the Buick size gnats and the mosquitoes.

When we first moved here, I named different parts of the property just for fun I'm weird like that. I even name my cars and motorcycles. This area I dubbed "Tranquility Base". Years ago I used to sit here reading the Holy Bible or one of my many Agatha Christie mysteries.

BEFORE

The area was wall-to-wall leaves, overgrown trees, cats claw vines, potato vines, etc. The swing needed light repair which my Most Excellent Husband happily obliged. It was now ready for swingin'!

 

AFTER

I raked the majority of leaves out of the area and put them in the new vegetable garden. Hey, never waste good mulch is my philosophy! Then repainted the repaired swing, hung two new wind chimes and planted shade tolerant flowers (Torenia) in an old black charcoal grill that I resprayed to match the swing and decorations. The orange colored Dwarf Azaleas are deformed from when the tree used to invade them. They are lovely this year in spite of the years of neglect. I'm hoping that once they're pruned and fertilized they'll look a little less scraggly.

Below is the Torenia. It's planted in an old charcoal grill I saved from the scrap heap.

 

I had never heard of Torenia until today, so, after getting home I looked up the flower on google and learned that this little beauty is in the Snapdragon family. 

Below, I hung an inexpensive cross wind chime over the plants. I gotta have my "tinklies". :)

Oh, and the Confederate Jasmine is in full regalia! The smell is so strong this year it wafts gently all over the yard. It's such a yummy odor. Even the birds & bees seem to enjoy it as much as we do.

I'm whopped now so I'm kickin' back with a brewsky and watching old Seinfeld reruns. Then I'll watch one of my pre-recorded old black and white movies. Hey, it beats the News these days. 

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Jackie Evancho - To Believe

"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises." KJV Psalm 47:6

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." King James Bible

Hamburger Vegetable Surprise

Ingredients

¼ cup Olive Oil
1 tbsp Garlic, minced
1 Sweet Onion, chopped
1 tsp Basil
1 tsp Oregano
1 lb lean Ground Beef
1 can diced Basil Tomatoes
3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1/3 package of DaVinci Bucatini (pasta)


In a large fry pan at medium heat cook the olive oil, minced garlic, chopped onion, basil and oregano. Cook until onions tender. Then add the lean ground beef, continue cooking on medium heat. When beef is evenly browned add the can of diced Basil Tomatoes and frozen mixed vegetables. Let simmer.

In a separate pot, bring water to boil and cook the pasta or noodles of your choice until tender (we used DaVinci Bucatini). Then add pasta to the beef mix.

Simmer mixture on medium heat until most of the water cooks off.

Good served with grated parmesan cheese and garlic bread as a side.

Serve hot. Serves about 4-6 people.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Funny Friday ~ Cialis Commercial

Caution: This commercial can cause numbness, dizziness, head shaking, regret, and nausea.

National Day Of Prayer - May 2nd

The National Day Of Prayer has been set for May 2nd this year.

Please try to attend a local event. Our nation needs you.

Never, never, never ... ever give up ... by Pastor C

"Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

-  James 4:7 (KJ 2000)

21 "Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. 22 Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent 24 and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, 25 then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. 26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. 27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. 28 What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. 29 When men are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast. 30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

- Job 22:21-30 (New International Version)

"Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God."

- Billy Graham

God bless,

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

He Stopped Loving Her Today

I am so sad  that one of my favorite Country Western singers, George Jones, passed away today. [I detest the new "country" music. It's crap.]

George Jones, the definitive country singer of the last half-century, whose songs about heartbreak and hard drinking echoed his own life, died on Friday in Nashville. He was 81. [more]

Some time during his career, he also earned the nickname "No Show Jones" because of his drinking habits. Hey, we all have our demons folks. But, irregardless of his demons, whatever they where, he cranked out many memorable songs for us all to enjoy in perpetuity. My absolute favorite of his is, and always will be, "He Stopped Loving Her Today". Brings tears every time.



Thank you Mr. Jones for all your years of wonderful songs. I look forward to hear you sing with us in your distinctive twang in the Heavenly choir with our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's blessings to all his family and friends.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

All a'Twitter #hackers

Yesterday, some Moonbat(s), probably based in Iran, hacked into the Associated Press Twitter account and caused havoc at self same place by creating a hoax. For some reason stating that the President was blown up made the Dow Jones part of the Stock Market plummet more than 200 points, or, to put it in real terms for the rest of us, more than $200 Billion dollars in value.

Wow.

Seems like with such good news as that the Stock Market would have soared with glee not panic.

So why would an artificial thing like an internet account with twitter, which I still don't understand why one wants to be there or what it does, would affect the Stock Market? Oh well. At least it's dragging itself back up the points again today.

Go figure.