I have always cherished a love for the antebellum south. (Not the slavery part, mind you. I think workers should be paid fairly for their labors and should have the right to unionize. I obviously have some beef with Walmart as well as slavery.)
So I was looking at a calendar in the work room of the church one day as I was waiting for copies to finish making themselves. One of the pictures was of Oak Alley Plantation. Located on the Mississippi River between the historic Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road". The picture is tiny! So just click on it to see the whole album.

That picture just inspires me with its romance and history and grandeur. My jaw just drops and I stare. And my imagination goes wild. So, I thought I would share it with you for one of two purposes. One, you will respond in a likewise manner. Two, it will at least give you a glimpse into my heart and mind. And perhaps explain why I forgot to staple whatever it was I was copying. I wasn't in the here or now! I was in the then and there. I was a beautiful daughter of a cotton mogul with strong Northern sympathies regarding slavery, but with a strong sense of state's rights as well.
Ah, well, that's all for now. I have to go make breakfast for this little mooing girl. She's mooing because she is a cow this morning, that's why. (That's for you Pamela.)
XOXOX
Joce

Okay, so I am just gonna post my curtains real quick for those interested- but it has to be quick cuz we are packing to go camping. Keuka Lake State Campground if you wanna visit us.
Thanks for the advice on my curtains mom and Kara- you guys rock!
XOXOX
Joce

Hello folks!
I am looking for a young dog or a puppy. Do you know where I might find a farm collie/ English Shepherd? Here is a picture of the kind of doggy I am looking for.

Let me know if you know where I can find one!
XOXO
Joce

Here's a quick little recipe I made up two nights ago.

In a baking pan: (PAM it)
Bottom layer: sauerkraut
Next layer: cooked polish sausage sliced about 1/2 inch think(I used left over grilled sausages on Joe's half and left over grilled white hots on my half)
Next layer: uncooked egg noodles
Next layer: finely chopped onion
Pour a mix of milk, mayo, garlic, salt, pepper, mustard, and onion powder (make sure there is enough to cook the noodles)
Next layer: shredded swiss cheese
Sprinkle mix of melted butter and bread crumbs on top.
Cover tightly with tin foil, and bake at 350 till the noodles are done (about an hour)

Kitchen tip: Use a veggie peeler to "shred" your cheese.

XOXOX

My sister in law sent this to me as an email forward. I laughed out loud and re-read it and laughed again. I had to share it even though I don't know who wrote it or if it fiction or non. Enjoy.

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died.
Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and
nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on
this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old,
3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves chapstick.
LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing it. So finally
one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he
could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the
drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and
try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are
fighting over the toy in the cereal b ox. I am trying to nurse my little
one at the same time I am putting on my make-up. Everything is a mess and
everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the
amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I
am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the
corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my
chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes
and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their
little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind.
And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the
FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us
that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatur es,
there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your
chapstick on the cat's butt.

Hey! It's time for an interactive blogging session....
Looking forward to things is a great way to keep your spirits up during all the humdrum daily stuff.
Right now I am looking forward to a few things:
1. I am getting a goat really really soon.
2. Brilyn and Cade are turing 3 and 1 respectively, their b-day party is the 18th at 2:00 if you would like to drop in.
3. My garden is growing and we are putting in more stuff all the time.
4. My 8th anniversary is Tuesday.
5. My internship is done. (I have been looking forward to that for a while.) Now, I get to see what God has for me next.
6. Prince Caspian and Indiana Jones movies are both coming out this month.
7. Making new curtains.
8. Finishing up crocheted blanket that I started in 2004. (Talk about a UFO)
9. Irises coming up.
10. Parents' visiting next weekend.

Okay........Your turn (I told you this would be interative). Tell me what you are looking forward to.
XOXOXO
Joce

I have to say, this dude gives me an uneasy feeling in my spirit. My point in posting this clip is not to influence politics (I do not support any candidate thus far. They all fall very short.) Please ignore the stupid parts of this video and absorb only the factual statements. And then, please read the very energetic responses in the comments section, and leave a comment if you dare.
XOXO
Joce

I will take this opportunity to state my usually unspoken clause to anything I post on here that I don't personally write.
"I don't like the media. People throw ridiculous things together trying to make a (sometimes erroneous) point. My political views are mixed, but I usually vote based on my belief that abortion is very wrong and that anyone who doesn't see that must have something wrong with their vision. And that doesn't make for a good policy maker, in my opinion. I do everything within my power to change the world right where I am in regards to things that the government doesn't and shouldn't have to do. I give to the poor, reduce, reuse, recycle (more than anyone else I know), keep my footprint small, and spread God's love to others as often as I am able. I focus on my family, and then continue from there. And I pray."

Potato Bacon and Ramp Soup

Ramps are wild leeks that taste like a mix between garlic and onions. They grown in the woods. Want some? We have lots.
Recipe:
Fry cubed potatoes, celery, and ramps in bacon grease in a cast iron skillet till ramps are cooked.
Transfer to big pot. Add 3 tablespoons flour, seasonings you like, and 6 pieces of bacon chopped up. Add 2 cups half and half and 2 cups beef (or chicken) broth. Simmer till thickened to your liking.
For a meatier variation, add barbequed pork rib meat cut off the bone.

Hyacinths in the Dining Room
Set a beautiful table using canning jars and multicolored hyacinth blooms.

My Beautiful Purple Flowering Tree


Fawn in Our Woods

Wild Turkey Nest in Our Woods
We went for a walk in the woods and found a turkey on her nest (she flew away so we could take a picture) and a newborn fawn. That's one AWESOME benefit of owning some woods.

Cade Stands Up
Cade has decided to stand up for himself. YAY!

www.knowthecause.com

Very interesting.
XOXOX
Joce