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Archeon

Arche-What? This is a historical interpretive museum in the Nederlands. They have three villages (time periods) represented. One is Medieval times. One is Roman times. The third is pre-historic times. All three have villages representing how people lived in the Nederlands in their respective times. They have reconstructed a small village of each period with costumed interpreters. The areas showed all kinds of aspects of life in their times, including games, music, weaving, working with fur, canoes you could ride in, honeybees, furniture-making, firemaking, jousting, spinning, and working with metals. There was a play in the afternoon at the Roman Amphi-theater - in Dutch of course. First, they had a volunteer come from the audience -- a school group was there so their beloved principal got to show off in front of the kids. He was a good sport and it was fun to watch. Then came the rest of the play. At one point a man in a hairy beast mask came out and one of the dogs in the...
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Polar Opposites

They say opposites attracts. I still don't know how we have made it. HE: Southern, poor, country background, few attended college, no alcohol SHE: Northern, rich, city background, most attended college, lotsa booze HE: Loves lots and lots of processed foods, salty, white flour (absolutely no whole grains), soft drinks, canned veggies. If you must have fresh veggies, cook them in LOTS of water until they are really soft, then dump out the water and add lots of butter or bacon fat. Meat can't have "blood running out". No sauces or gravies. No pasta, cheese, cooked tomatoes, vinegar. Fast foods are a staple. Salads on rare occasions. LOTS of potatoes. Doesn't like "surprise" textures like nuts in brownies, whole what grains in bread, and eating around chicken bones. SHE: Whole grains, fresh or frozen foods, cooked as little as possible, low salt, water to drink, as little processing as possible. Not hot dogs, bologna, spam, or canned foods. Love sauc...
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Hmm???

Cathryn and her boyfriend Peter just called. And I don't know why? Something weird is going on. I think I need to brush up on Cathryn stories, although they aren't as much fun as the infamous Allen stories. Dianna wrote from Italy. Yes, she is loving it. I also talked to Bryan and got a letter from Allen today. He wants me to sent him some Sour Warheads, but I'm a tad hesitant to put a box through Customs with content description: Warheads. (And if you suggest I put "candy", you obviously are taking me far too seriously. That was a joke!) But if you insist on giving me advice, tell me where to find the Sour Warheads, other than the internet. I decided rutabagas are not my favorite. All the recipes want at least a 1:2 sugar/rutabaga ratio. And syrup doesn't work. I don't trust anything that requires that much sugar. I learned the hard way: don't cook them with onions, even if they do look like a vegetable.
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Kitty!

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Since Cathryn talked about her kitty I thought I could post about mine. This is Gerda. Her latest is to sit on the rail right by the front door of the German house because she knows I will give her a handful of wheat when I walk by and she won't have to share it with anybody. She and her sister Greta are the friendliest kitties and like to be picked up the most. They are always the first to come running to me when I call out "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" Greta likes to come in the house so I can throw her out the window.
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HOME!

Dianna and I arrived home tonight at 9:30. It was a long trip. Allen apparently is still stuck in the airport in Fayetteville with airplane mechanical and weather problems. Poor guy.
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Are We Still Alive?

I found a bunch of old posts that hadn't gone up, so I hit post. But didn't save the dates and now don't know where they came from. Sorry. The next five posts are out of sequence. Life is different without my kids. I stay busy: - 35 seniors I try to keep up with - teach 40 children music at church - Board of Directors of food pantry - assembly 20 volunteers a month for service at the food bank - recorder group performs at senior centers (regrouping( - political women's club - president of the Ruritans this year - taking piano lessons - little travel here and there - trying to clean stuff out of the house I will never use - sewing/embroidery/photography - not so much computers - they are leaving me in the dust. I have been studying and learning a lot about alternative medical therapies: herbs, oils, homeopathy, acupuncture, etc. I am doing WAY better than I was with traditional medicine. It is somewhat of a passion and I want to learn more!
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Too much

I haven't looked at this in a while, so I checked it out and found that there were about fifty trash posts. Surprise, surprise. I guess I will have to deal with how to get rid of them. Facebook has kind of taken over my letting family know where I am and what I am doing, plus there is nothing interesting going on in my life. This was a great tool for our trips to Europe. In the past month I have been to Tampa and Orlando, Williamsburg, Raleigh, and DC, so I am still traveling. The next few months have another trip to Raleigh, then Denver and Montana. In the meantime, I have WAY too many things on my plate. Keeping up with the four kids Settling Mom's estate Church Primary Music Church Public Affairs Church Visiting Teaching Scouts,  Ruritans,  rental house,  helping seniors with computers,  visiting seniors,  Food Pantry keeping up a dozen web pages,  helping a friend with no car get groceries,  another friend with multiple problems...
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The Benevolent Dictator

When I am a benevolent dictator, here are some of my laws: Factories turn off their lights at night. The only people that can see them don't WANT to see them and it disrupts the animals and the ecosystem and wastes money. When two people get divorced, the government pays child support and takes it out of the hide of the one who is supposed to pay. The idea that kids are used as pawns in this is ridiculous. Everyone who gets an abortion who expects the government to pay for it automatically gets their tubes tied. $1000 free and clear to anyone who gets "fixed." No questions asked. One per customer. Tiny tattoo goes with it to help with scamming. Biometrics identity all the way. No voting privileges (yes, you can vote under my dictatorship, but I can overrule anything) unless  you can present a high school diploma or GED AND pass a test on the Constitution. Voting privileges are temporarily denied if you are on welfare. If your license is suspended, you can ...
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An Interlude for you

C, E-flat, and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, but we don't serve minors." So E-flat leaves, and C and G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished, and G is out flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. D comes in and heads for the bathroom, saying, "Excuse me; I'll just be a second." Then A comes in, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor. Then the bartender notices B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and says, "Get out! You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight." E-flat comes back the next night in a three-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says, "You're looking sharp tonight. Come on in, this could be a major development." Sure enough, E-flat soon takes off his suit and everything else, and is au natural. Eventually C sobers up and realizes in horror that he's ...
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yes the blog is dying

Since I locked this blog, it just isn't the same. This will be the last post. I might start another one, but the world has changed enough that it isn't necessary. It was started for my trips to Belgium and I doubt I will ever have such an awesome experience again. I will try to find a way to print it out, or at least the first two years of it  I know I've seen services that do that. Thanks to everyone who has read and encouraged me along the way. deb
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Museum

Today was a quiet day at the museum.We had one family from the Netherlands. They are always amazed that I speak some Dutch! Some from Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The Michigan people knew my German songs and sang along quite well. David is working late tonight. All is peaceful and quiet.
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Getting By

David ran off to Williamsburg for the weekend to play with ham radios. His mom is in a nursing home waiting to be moved to Assisted Living which will be a load of work as well as expense. His mom's house still isn't getting any interest, even though the price is less than half of the taxable value. I am trying to coordinate getting a hot tub put in on a small deck behind the garage. We'll see if it comes to pass. David insists he is supporting me, but I think he really wants it more than I do, though he would never admit it. Fixed three computers (all gratis) and went to a church picnic yesterday. Yes, I know. I can't keep it up. I am officially looking for a job, okay! Geez, for the love of Pete, quit nagging!
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