Country CousinIssue Date: July 22, 2021 Prayers Answered?
We here in TIMESLand in recent days have been blessed with the kind of weather that keeps me convinced God spends His summer vacations here. Clear, sunny days, warm but not muggy hot, and nights cool enough to enjoy a sweatshirt at the campfire, and a blanket on the bed at night.
Isn't it wonderful?
CAUSE OR COINCIDENCE
Don't know if it's strictly a coincidence, but last week we asked the Good Lord to help the honey bees and butterflies that seem to be having such a hard time lately, and this week, especially over the weekend, there seemed to be more of those helpful bees and beautiful butterflies than we've seen in a couple of years.
Two of the grown grandsons even managed to rescue a honeybee that was so loaded with pollen that it couldn't get out of the flower it had been working on. They even got photos of the rescued bee, cleaning off its yellow burden and polishing its little antennae. The bee then flew off merrily on its way, hopefully, to pollinate another flower so we can make our gardens grow and our fruit trees bear fruit, and to bring sustenance home to feed its hive so there can be more bees of its kind.
This is truly an incredibly marvelous world for anyone who stops to really look at the wonders it contains.
GROWIN' THINGS
This is possibly the best season for gardens and their caretakers. Planting is done. Either the weeds have mostly surrendered or the gardener has. We're enjoying the bounty of nature (and hard work) but not so much produce yet that those of us who feel compelled to freeze, can or otherwise preserve the fruits of our labors are overwhelmed.
There's actually time to sit back and smell the roses. Except the roses are mostly done. There are plenty of other blooms to replace them so we'll manage, what with the birds and the bees and the butterflies to watch.
Remember some years back, when gypsy moth caterpillars were causing untold damage to forests and orchards?
There was a lot of concern, but most of the trees survived the onslaught, partly thanks to some aggressive spraying programs. A GOOD TURN
Have always said the truest form of recycling has nothing to do with washing out used juice jars and soup cans, it has to do with putting food scraps, rakings, yard clippings, etc. on a mulch heap so they can be turned back into the soil that produced them in the first place.
Do remember to turn the mulch heap occasionally when there's a break in other yard duties. And don't forget to keep adding to it and keep it moist but not dripping wet. Your plants will thank you when you add a bit of well rotted mulch to the potting soil when it's time to repot and bring them in for the winter.
POETIC JUSTICE
Kind of ironic, isn't it? The first president of the Marlboro cigarette company reportedly died of lung cancer.
KIDS HEAR THE DARNDEST THINGS
Youngsters often hear words that don't quite make sense to them, so they translate into something they can relate to. Sometimes their conclusions would really lead to an interesting world. For example, one little Sunday schooler thought St. Matthew was a taxi man who was one of the opossums. He probably felt Jesus would feel honored to be followed around voluntarily by a dozen wild animals. Another thought "epistles" were the wives of the Apostles, and still another would have probably not liked to live in King Solomon's house, where there were 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
Incidentally, my own granddaughter used to call them "pokeypines" because they have "pokeys" all over them. She was right
THINK ABOUT IT
It doesn't always pay to be first. The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.
MOSQUITOES
Good news! They've found it! A way to eliminate mosquitoes, once and for all. No more itchy stings. No more transfer of blood-borne diseases like Malaria, Yellow Fever, West Nile Virus, and others we probably don't even know about yet, possibly including the HIV virus. At least they haven't told us that mosquitoes spread Coronavirus. Not sure why that is.
Anyway, according to the latest scientific research, all we need to do to eliminate mosquitoes once and for all is to capture every female mosquito and cut the stomach nerve that tells her she's full. Scientists say if that were done every one of the egg-laying little buzzers will drink until she explodes. Wouldn't that be fun to watch?
You may have guessed I don't really like mosquitoes. They may be food for other insects, fish, frogs, bats, and birds. They may help pollinate plants. I don't really care. Birds and frogs can find something else to eat, and bees can take care of the pollination. Mosquitoes bite and make you itch. The buzz in your ears, land in your food, and even get in our eyes and our ears, and sometimes get tangled up in our hair.
Usually, it's the females that cause all the trouble but at a power plant in Canada some years ago engineers found recurrent malfunctions were caused by thousands of male mosquitoes getting into the works. Seems the hum of the plant duplicated the sound of the female mosquito wings. Since males follow that sound to locate their next date, they flocked to the plant for what they apparently thought would be a really good time. In defense of male mosquitoes, apparently, they do not bite. They dine on mostly nectar or rotting fruit. Scientists claim the females drink blood only when they're ready to lay eggs. All I can say is, there must be an awful lot of eggs laid.
Anyway, when a female decides to bite she may probe your skin as many as 20 times before she finds a nice tender spot with the right blood vessel. Each time she samples a spot she injects a substance that keeps your blood from coagulating. It also makes you itch. Then the hungry little devil can drink two to three times her body weight in blood.
As if the 2,500 different species we already knew about weren't enough, someone in the Florida Keys discovered a new variety about two decades ago. We already had 200 different kinds in this country. Wasn't that enough?
Seriously, there is not currently any way to eradicate the mosquito without killing a lot of other things, and there's nowhere to go to get away from them except in the dead of winter. They've been found at 8,000 feet up in the Himalayas, below sea level in Death Valley, Calif., north of the Arctic Circle and even in the Sahara desert. Probably at an oasis there, so maybe if you stay out on the dunes you're OK. They probably don't bite during sandstorms either.
Guess we can't run from mosquitoes, but maybe we can hide. Just stop breathing. They locate their prey from 65 to 115 feet away by the scent of carbon dioxide and lactic acid on your breath. Maybe we need more mouthwash. Anyway, after they're closer to their prey those mothers-to-be watch for movement, so sit real still. And then stay cold and keep your skin covered. She's supposedly guided into ground zero by the heat of your body. Maybe those cold drinks really do help? Pass the ice cubes.
Nowadays in the U.S, especially Wisconsin, environmentalists have been busy for years protecting every swamp hole and bog where a mosquito could hatch. In the old days, they drained swamps to make the country safe for human habitation. Now they protect them to make the country safe for the bugs.
In some places, the mosquitoes almost won. Back in 1878, a Yellow Fever epidemic (spread by mosquitoes) wiped out more than 5,000 of the 33,000 residents of Memphis, Tenn. That's nearly one-sixth of the entire population. There were serious suggestions to level the city, salt the earth there, and move everyone to a location. Apparently, they took steps to evict the mosquitoes rather than relocate the city, and today tourists flock there to pay homage to Elvis, its most famous hometown boy.
The Panama Canal almost wasn't built. Mosquito-carried diseases were wiping out all the workmen. American scientists finally found ways to deal with the mosquitoes and the Malaria they carried so they could keep crews alive long enough to get the thing dug. The rest is history. And now we've given it back to the Panamanians and the resident mosquitoes.
TRAVEL TIME
Summer is time for lots of families to hit the road. If you're leaving on an extended vacation it's a good idea to find a friend or neighbor to collect your newspapers and mail or have delivery held up until you get home. A pile of outdated newspapers on the porch or in the delivery tube is a dead give-away to would-be thieves that the coast is clear.
If you're flying or traveling by bus or Amtrak, be sure to remove all old destination tags before attaching new ones. Airlines say those old tags are perhaps the major reason for luggage to go one direction while its owners go another.
Use your business address or business card on luggage tags if your boss doesn't object. Or put the address and phone number of a friend or relative who has agreed to help. That way, if a thief gets hold of your luggage they won't know your house is temporarily unoccupied. If a bag gets lost or mixed with someone else's belongings you have a chance of locating it before you get home. Doesn't do much good for a finder to attempt to call you while you're still in distant places unless you give your cell phone number. And that may or may not be a good idea.
It's a good plan to tape a card with your name, business address, and the phone number of a contact person inside each piece of luggage in case the outside tags get torn off.
SUMMER STAINS
Whether it's a trip to the beach or across the country, a picnic in the back yard, or a quick lunch at a fast-food drive-thru, summer can be hazardous to your wardrobe. Chocolate, ice cream, grass stains ketchup spills - they all happen with greater frequency in summer.
The folks at Tide recommend taking along an emergency stain removal kit when you travel. This includes a plastic bowl or dishpan, a stiff card - like an outdated credit card, a bottle with an openable spout filled with your favorite liquid detergent, and a length of clothesline. A number of women on their website chat room advise adding shampoo to the list. They swear it gets out a lot of stains that resist laundry detergent.
When you get a stain, use the card to scrape off excess goo - like the chocolate or ketchup. Then pretreat the stain with the detergent, work it in gently, then add water and soak for about half an hour. Rinse and hang out on the line to dry. Should be easy to wash when you get home.
A white shirt man who claims to be an expert ketchup spiller says the best thing is to quickly blot off the excess, then get some seltzer water and sponge it out. Any place that serves fountain soda has seltzer.
A mom familiar with the droppings from ice cream bars says to read the label first, and if hot water won't hurt the fabric stretch it over a pan or sink and pour boiling water through the stain. Pre-treat with shampoo and it should wash right out.
COOKIN' TIME
Gardens are producing wonderful things right now - green beans, fresh baby peas, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, green onions, spinach, leaf lettuce, and more. Raspberries and blueberries are ready. Blackberries are ripening. Many strawberries are done, but ever-bearing varieties are still producing. If you don't have your own garden, get your goodies at a farmers' market or roadside stand. Don't miss the chance to enjoy fresh locally grown produce.
CAMPFIRE SOUP
The original recipe called this â€Åchiliâ€, but it's not, despite the chili powder. It's its own kind of soup, a bit hot, and very good. Goes well with lemonade or other cold beverage. Serves 8-10. If you're planning this for a camping trip, prepare the fresh veggies at home before you go. For a full meal, add maybe a grilled cheese sandwich and a berry good dessert.
3 pounds bulk pork sausage
1-2 jalapeños, seeded and diced
4 cups farmers market vegetables, diced (squash, carrots, zucchini, asparagus, onions, peppers)
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups plain yogurt
In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, cook sausage and jalapeños over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add vegetables, garlic, and chili powder to the sausage mixture and sauté for 5 minutes. Add beef broth and tomatoes; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in black beans and yogurt; cook 5 minutes. Serve with additional yogurt for topping.
BERRY GOOD MUFFINS
Make these with blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries. Makes 2 dozen mini muffins.
For muffins:
1 cup fresh raspberries, mashed
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup (2 ounces) butter, melted and cooled
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 mini muffin cups with paper liners. For muffins: In a small bowl, stir berries with lemon juice; set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together sour cream, butter, egg, and vanilla. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir until moistened. Fold in berries. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups. Bake 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and let stand 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan to rack and cool completely.
For Frosting:
4 ounces Wisconsin cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (2 ounces) butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup fresh berries, mashed
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar and then stir the berries in. Spread frosting on the cooled cupcakes/muffins. Store in the fridge until serving time.
Raspberry-Cinnamon Muffins
These delicious raspberry muffins are low fat and dairy-free.
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup applesauce
1 large egg
1â€"°Ã‚½ cups all-purpose flour
1â€"°Ã‚½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1â€"°Ã‚½ cups fresh or frozen raspberries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Stir brown sugar, applesauce, and egg in a bowl until well combined. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and stir into applesauce mixture until just combined. Fold in raspberries gently. Scoop uniform amounts of batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake in the preheated oven until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove muffins from the tin immediately and cool on a wire rack.
HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY SAUCE
Homemade Blueberry Sauce comes together in just a few minutes. Try a spoonful with your morning yogurt, dolloped over a stack of pancakes, spooned on top of the cheesecake, or over a scoop of ice cream for a delicious treat.
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with 2 Tablespoons cold water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 Tablespoon), optional
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the blueberries, 1/2 cup of water, sugar and lemon juice. Stir frequently, and bring to a low boil. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water. Slowly stir the cornstarch mixture into the blueberries, taking care not to crush the blueberries. Simmer until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and gently stir in vanilla and lemon zest.
The Country Cousin
Thought for the week: With all the recent government handouts, we as a nation are falling into some dangerous ways. America has never before been a nation of takers. We have been a nation of doers - energetic, proud, ambitious - unwilling to accept handouts unless our backs were totally to the wall. We have always been a generous, caring people - willing to sacrifice our own comfort to help others in need. That is the America we love. That is the America our forefathers fought and died for. That is the America we need to make sure does not slip away. Please, God, inspire us to continue being the kind of people that made America great, and the kind of humans that make You proud. Amen.
(This column is written by Shirley Prudhomme of Crivitz. Views expressed are her own and are in no way intended to be an official statement of the opinions of Peshtigo Times editors and publishers. She may be contacted by phone at 715-291-9002 or by e-mail to shirleyprudhommechickadee@yahoo.com.)
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