Guarding His Master Once Last Time...

Hawkeye, Guarding his master one last time.

 Navy Seal Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Jon  "JT" Tumilson , 35 gave his life in Afghanistan. 

Read more: http://globegazette.com/news/local/family-friends-fellow-officers-remember-navy-seal-tumilson/article_5d76e13a-ca72-11e0-8343-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story#ixzz1VxKidZER

Some Days Words are not needed.. 

Rest in Peace JT.

you can also see another photo here:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/128315683.html

JT and Hawkeye... 

Yummy, Easy, Refrigerator Pickles....

  This time of the summer our cucumbers are putting on loads. Husband said today to start making the pickles. The vines are turning yellow, so they'll be finishing up soon. These Refrigerator pickles are yummy and easy as pie to make..  I make them in the bowl. and them transfer them to an empty pickle jar or canning jar to be eaten...  Everyone loves them..

Refrigerator Pickles

Place the following ingredients in a large bowl and set aside

7- cups of Sliced Cucumbers/ about 5 medium

 (do NOT peel them) I like to cut them a little thick. 

I also use the small ones. I save the med. size ones for salads. 

1- cup of sliced onion 

1-green pepper seeded and thinly sliced

1- Tablespoon of salt

Optional:  I have put banana peppers in this seeded and thinly sliced, 

you could use any of your favorite peppers. 

Place the following ingredients in a saucepan and heat to almost a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. 

2- cups white sugar

1- cup White vinegar

1-teaspoon celery seed

Optional: I used dill seed this time as I didn't have any celery seed., it worked great

I have also added 2- tsp. of minced garlic, 1-tsp. of turmeric, 

and a couple shakes of hot pepper flakes. 

remove from heat

let the mixture cool, then pour over the top of the Cucumber/onion/pepper mixture.

cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. 

I prefer heating the sugar, vinegar and spices. I have found if I pour the 

hot liquid over the cucumber mixture it all shrivels up...

YUKKO

 so I let it cool off, and then pour it over the mixture in the bowl. 

After 48 hrs.I like to transfer the mixture to an old pickle jar or canning jar, 

cover with the liquid, and refrigerate. 

then I add more cucumbers, onions, and peppers to the bowl. 

cover and refrigerate for 24 hrs. and so on. 

These Pickles will keep well for up to 3 months. 

Hillbilly Supper Night and a recipe for Fried Cabbage

   Tonight is Hillbilly Supper night.. a favorite at our house. Since dear husband is from the south, born in MO. raised in Ky; We have these nights at least a couple times a month. They are particularly wonderful in the summer when the garden is coming in. Tonight there will be white beans , corn bread, freshly picked green beans, fried cabbage, fresh tomatoes, and big slices of fresh cucumber. I may even whip up a peach cobbler for dessert later on.

I wanted to add the recipe for fried cabbage. I looked online and ran across this (SouthrenPlate.com)  wonderful site. I love the great Southern mom attitude and Christy's wonderful way with words. I'm adding the recipe here, but you will definitely want to check her site out. It's looks scrumptious. If you've never tried frying cabbage you should. it's wonderful. I may add a few other recipes later this week, right now I have some cabbage to fry.

enjoy...

Fried Cabbage

Ingredients

• 5-6 strips of bacon (more or less if you like)
• 1 head cabbage, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In large skillet, fry bacon until crisp. Place bacon on paper towel lined plate and remove all of the bacon grease from the pan except for about two tablespoons. Place chopped cabbage in skillet and crumple cooked bacon on top of it. Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly, for about five minutes. Reduce heat to low and cover. Continue cooking until cabbage is done to your desired tenderness, five to ten minutes more. Salt and pepper to taste.

Welcome Home Marine...

  This week I got to do one of the things I love best.. I got to head out to the local Airport and Welcome home one of the Marines on our list. Remember that I belong to a Troop Support Group, "My Heart Supports The Troops" you can check out their website here.

  I love going to the Airport. It's so much fun to watch the people there. Especially when there is a member of our Military coming home. We have a wonderful Patriot Guard group that's always at the airport for these special events. I love to watch the pride and excitement they all show. Today was especially exciting as one of their members was the Marine's Daddy.

It's fun to watch the family and friends as they wait. They are usually dressed in Red, White, and Blue, or have something patriotic on them. Sometimes they carry signs (like the one above made by J.C.'s brothers) and sometimes they carry flags, or other important things to give to the loved one.

There are others that are waiting for loved ones to return on the same flight. They get excited too. There is much ado when the flight lands. The PGR come to attention, flags at the ready. The family is so excited they don't know whether to stand where they are or run to the front.

Our group loves to meet our Troops at the Airport. We come with flags, and cameras too.. And the best part is the hugs and handshakes, and welcome home Marine.. and welcome home son.. that we get to hear.

sometimes I don't know who is more excited. The Troop or the folks there to greet him. I would say it's a close race between the two.

I think there is something very special about the Veterans with the PGR that greet each Troop. They always ask if the family wants to greet them first. They adjust their line accordingly. Today the family stood at the end of the  line. I thought they would bust from the anticipation of the best hugs that would be given that day..

Out of the line of PGR a Vietnam Veteran steps up and hugs the Marine.. Then another and another.. It's very moving. I am moved to tears just thinking about it.

Husband Ken has told me numerous times about the welcome home that the Vietnam Veterans received. It wasn't a good experience. They were spit on, and called vile names. Today it is very different. Thanks in part I believe to the generation of Vietnam Vets and their families that will never let another generation of Veterans feel abandoned by their Country.

It's fun to watch the onlookers waiting for a flight. They get in on the excitement too.

It was a quick handshake and a "thank you for serving, and Welcome Home".. from us after the family had gotten all the special hugs and kisses. Then it was time to head back to the parking lot and home.

Some may wonder why I would take an hour or so out of my day to go wave a flag, take some pictures, and shake a hand or hug a neck of a returning Troop. Do it one time and you'll know why. It's because it does my heart and my soul and my being good.

Favorite Rascal Flatts Song Of The Week...

This is one of my Favorites..  I really enjoy Rascal Flatts. One of my hopes is to see them in concert. 

You can listen to this song here.  Here are the lyrics. Enjoy... 

I Won't Let Go. 

It's like a storm
That cuts a path
It breaks your will
It feels like that
You think you're lost
But you're not lost on your own,
You're not alone

I will stand by you,
I will help you through
When you've done all you can do
and you can't cope
I will dry your eyes,
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
and I won't let go

It hurts my heart to see you cry
I know its dark this part of life
Oh it find us all and we're to small
to stop the rain
Oh but when it rains

I will stand by you,
I will help you through
When you've done all you can do
and you can't cope
I will dry your eyes,
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
and I won't let you fall

Don't be afraid to fall
I'm right here to catch you
I won't let you down
It won't get you down
You're gonna make it
I know you can make it

Cause I will stand by you,
I will help you through
When you've done all you can do
and you can't cope
I will dry your eyes,
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
and I won't let go

Oh I'm gonna hold you
and I won't let go
Won't let you go
No I won't

The Passing Of A Post Office...

  The Photo above is of the Tolu Post office.. 

 Tolu is a small community situated on the banks of the Ohio River in Western Ky.  With about 90 residents more or less. This small community will be losing it's Post Office at the end of this month.  The Post office was established in Tolu in 1857. for those of you that are a little slow with math, like myself.. that's 154 yrs. of operation. 154 yrs. of  letters from family far away, letters from college students, Letters from Soldiers and Sailors on foreign soil.  154 yrs of Wedding invitations, Birthday cards, Love letters, and Bills. 154 yrs of communication with the Big outside world. To think all that will end on the 31st of August is a very sad thing.

According to Brenda Underdown's Blog   The post office " was the last public building that was still being used, after their general store closed several years ago. They still have their active Methodist Church and also their Community Center, which was once the Tolu Elementary School" . 

Tolu is not the only small Post Office that will be closing. Deep cuts in the Postal Service will ring the death knell for many Post Offices in many small communities all over the country. The days of the small town Post office are quickly coming to an end.. With email, facebook and other social networks people just don't use the Post Office like they once did. We want our news delivered electronically, and out letters available as we open our email accounts. We sign up for paperless billing, and pay automatically through our bank accounts. We want it all at our fingertips now.

Technology is great, But some days I wonder, What are we really giving up to have such easy access to everything.

From listening to the stories of those who settled this area , those who live in Tolu are of hardy stock. The town probably won't fade away just yet, but it's very possible that Tolu will be a town of the past someday. I hope not. I hope it will continue on even if the residents will all have to drive 16 miles into Marion to use the Post Office.