Total Lunar Eclipse!

This year wraps up with a rare event! A total lunar eclipse—of the full Moon—on the winter solstice! A triple whammy!

Delightfully, this eclipse will be fully visible from North America. The partial eclipse begins in the wee hours of December 21 at 1:32 A.M. (ET) with totality starting at 2:40 A.M. (For those on the West cost, the show begins on the 20th!)

With the total eclipse, we will enjoy a celestial canvas of superb beauty. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon. In this alignment, the shadow of the Earth falls upon the Moon, dimming the Moon and giving it unusual coloring, ranging from muted gray to coppery orange.

While every eclipse is special, this one is attended by many stars and constellations that are beautiful in their own right. See more—plus, a special Sky Map!

From "The Old Farmer's Almanac"

The Christmas Police...

Guess what – there is no Christmas police.

You can decide not to…

• Bake cookies
• Put up a tree
• Decorate
• Spend more than you have on gifts
• Make your own stockings
• Stay up to midnight finishing homemade gifts
• Cook twice as much as you need
• Go to the party

If it doesn’t matter to you or your family you can say no. And if your family says it all matters, ask them what matters most. (If it truly, truly matters to them they can always do it themselves.)

You can decide to…

• Celebrate with just your immediate family
• Make one kind of cookie
• Ask for help with the holiday dinner
• Spend the night in
• Finish up things after Christmas
• Enjoy
• Laugh
• Connect

Breathe and let go.

this is an excerpt from "My Simple Life" check it out.

photo from Red Brolly Quilts.

Be Thankful...

Now the people complained about their hardships...

The rabble with them began to crave other food,

and again the Israelites started wailing and said,

"If only we had meat to eat!" But now we have lost

our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

God provided the manna. In His mercy,

"when the dew settled on the camp at night,

the manna also came down."
Numbers 11:1-9

We often forget all the good things god provides to us on a daily basis... Remember to be thankful for all that you have.

Its THANKSGIVING?!!

It will soon be Thanksgiving and I am never ready for the holidays... But I read a blog this morning which will help anyone get more organized... Check out 7 Days from "Cooke's Frontier", and be sure to check out her recipe for Mile High Peanut-butter/Brownie Pie posted on Chickens in the Road today.

EASY Button...

Go to Better After and take a look at the post about the EASY button for Craigslist. While there go through all her before and after posts.

P.S. I downloaded this and is does work...only it only brings up things listed which have pictures, so be sure to look over the list anyway, you wouldn't want to miss something good just because there's no picture.

FALL BACK...

Don't forget to reset your clocks...

Cheese please...

NEUFCHATEL CHEESE

by Dr. David Fankhauser, for Redco Foods 5 May 2003

Equipment:

5 quart stainless steel pot with lid, sterilized by boiling a small amount of water for 5 minutes covered
whisk, used to mix ingredients. Try not to create foam.
thermometer, should read in the range of 32-220 F (0-110 C)
quart strainer
sterile handkerchief, sterilized by boiling and hanging to dry
receiving container, to catch draining whey. A one gallon bowl or clean plastic bucket will do.

Ingredients:

1 gallon milk
1/4 cup culture buttermilk (fresh)
1/4th tablet Junket Rennet tablet
This is a soft, spreadable cheese originated in France and is eaten fresh. Sometimes called "farmer's" cheese, think if it as a low fat cream cheese which can eaten on crackers straight or mixed with seasonings, used in cheese cake, folded into omelets, etc.

1. Pour milk into the pre-sterilized 5 quart stainless steel pot. Warm to 65 F with stirring.
2. Meanwhile, dissolve 1/4 tablet rennet in 1/4 cup water.
3. When the milk reaches 65 F, remove from heat, add buttermilk, whisk to mix thoroughly.
4. Stir the dissolved rennet into the 65 F inoculated milk, blend thoroughly.
5. Cover and let sit overnight undisturbed at room temperature (65-70F, 20C).
6. The next morning, a clean break should have formed (see recipe for basic cheese for the test). If the coagulated milk is not firm enough, let it sit until is does, as long as another 12 hours.
7. When a clean break is achieved, cut the curd into 1/2 inch cubes (see recipe for basic cheese for technique). Some recipes call for stirring the soft curd with a whisk. This will work, but will make the separation of curds and whey more difficult.
8. Ladle the curds and whey into a clean sterile handkerchief supported in a large strainer, placed over a one gallon bowl. Allow the whey to drain through. If the cloth becomes clogged, lift the cloth back and forth or scrape the curd away from the cloth. Save the whey for ricotta if you wish (see recipe).
9. When most of the whey has drained through, pick up the four corners of the cloth and suspend the curd in a cool place to drain overnight (from a shelf of the refrigerator if you have room).
10. The next day, remove the cheese and mix in1- 3 teaspoons of salt, according to taste. It may be eaten immediately. Store covered in the refrigerator until use.
11. You may pack the cheese into a mold of your choice (a squat tin can with the ends removed for instance).

---

RENNET CHEESE

1 qt. hot tap water
1 c. buttermilk
2 rennet tablets dissolved in 1 T. cold water
2 c. dry milk powder
2 T. vegetable oil (opt.)
Blend all ingredients and place in a heavy saucepan coated with a nonstick spray. Let sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Cut or stir to break into curds and cook over medium heat for five minutes. Pour curds into a strainer, rinse with hot, then cold water, and drain. Salt to taste, then refrigerate. Or, place in a cheesecloth bag and press. This is a very mild cheese, good with salt and chopped chives. Use within 3-4 days. To make cream cheese from this recipe, reduce rennet to 1/4 tablet and add 1 c. buttermilk when mixing ingredients. Set in a warm place overnight. After cutting set curds into cubes, place curds over medium heat, and cook five minutes. Pour into a cheesecloth lined colander and let rest 15 minutes. Gather edges of bag, secure with a rubber band and hang, or press until firm like cream cheese. Add salt if desired.

Click Here for Information on Making Cheese

by Dr. David Fankhauser Ph.D.

check out all his recipes, they are very informative.

Ways to save...

1. Stop buying books and magazines and start using the library instead!
2. Don't buy cleaning products and instead invest in vinegar and baking soda [see the Down To Earth blog for tips]
3. Only wash clothes that are dirty, don't wash simply because you've used them
4. Hang your clothes to dry
5. Shower instead of bath and put a timer on
6. Swap childcare with friends
7. Eat vegetarian meals 3 nights a week - eating less meat is certainly greener!
8. Set yourself no spending days begin with 2 a week for the first month then add in another!
9. Use low energy light bulbs
10. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
11. Turn off all lights in empty rooms
12. Put a sweater and socks on so you can keep the heat lower.
13. Turn down the water temperature.
14. Pack snacks
15. Practice freezer cooking once a month so you have frugal meals handy!
16. Don't use things that are disposable like water bottles
17. Stop buying paper towels
18. Plan a weekly menu
19. Have breakfast for dinner once a week
20. Only shop once a week maximum
21. Try to buy direct from local farms and co-ops
22. Limit or ditch the cell phone
23. Schedule a long walk each weekend (great frugal family activity)
24. Pick your own - in some areas apples are still available!
25. Use what is available free - does your gym have showers and shampoo you can use instead of showering at home?
26. Wash your clothes at lower temperatures
27. Establish a change jar
28. Set yourself no driving days - if you need your car for work, nominate one day at the weekend where you aren't allowed to use it.
29. Set yourself the goal that if you could walk somewhere within 30 minutes you shouldn't take your car.
30. Write down everything you eat.
31. Write down everything you buy
32. Cancel the newspaper subscription
33. Don't eat out. Maybe challenge yourself and see if you can not eat out at all between now and the holidays!
34. Nominate one night a week to be soup night
35. Commit to cutting your grocery bill by at least 10% [I cut mine by 75%]
36. Stop buying soda, juice and alcohol
37. Ditch the cigarettes
38. Have a movie night at home.
39. Rent movies from the library - in most countries that means they are free.
40. See if you can get what you need for free by making use of local adds and enquiring if friends or family are looking to get rid of what you need.
41. Join a book group - usually a free way to have a night out.
42. Turn off all electrical equipment
43. Get back to nature [photographing squirrels is free, green & fun!]
44. Make your own shampoo
45. If you want to purchase something, make yourself wait 48 hours and examine whether you need it or want it.
46. See if what you need you can purchase second hand
47. Wait to do dishes until there is a full load [by hand or machine!]
48. Watch your portion sizes
49. Be your own beauty therapist
50. Ask for the necessities for holiday gifts

These ideas are all out there, but I love when someone pulls them all together into one. I post so others can read and I can have a place to return to in the future.

Heavenly...

DEVONSHIRE CREAM

3 ounces yogurt cheese

12 oz. Carnations Evaporated Milk

1 teaspoon homemade vanilla extract

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 teaspoon sugar free/fat free instant pudding

Pour evaporated milk into metal mixing bowl, place beater into milk and place bowl in the freezer for 30 minutes. Pull from freezer; add sugar and vanilla and beat until the mixture holds its shape and looks like softly whipped cream. Add yogurt and pudding mix till combined. Use right away or cover and refrigerate the cream until serving time.

Makes about 3 cups.

I made this to put on the Banana bread Pudding I made using some of the banana bread Kenneth had made with some of the 6 pounds of banana's I brought home. Check out the recipe over on Chickens In The Road - Farm Bell Recipes.

We served it while the bread pudding was still warm.

Cooking like Julia...

The other night for "Date Night" Kenneth and I watched Julie and Julia. This was a really good movie and I realized that even though I remember watching Julia Child on TV,I was never really interested in making anything she cooked. I also thought that Julie Powells kitchen is alot like mine. Not much room to work. The one thing I took from the movie, Don't be afraid to try!

Also Julia lived to be 91 years old and her husband Paul lived to be 92. They married when she was 40 and learned to cook in Paris using REAL butter! I wonder what her cholesterol count was?

I just went and bought my first stick of real butter. it was $3.14 for 2 cups I think I would get 2 cups out of a gallon of milk which cost 5.00 plus gas $$.

Yogurt is $1.98 for 4 cups, or I can make 16 cups for $5.00, a much better deal. You also get the whey to use in cooking/baking. I strained some yogurt yesterday to make yogurt cheese, kinda like cream cheese and can be used in place of it.

I used the yogurt cheese to make some Devenshire cheese (whipped topping), Kenneth said "It tasted awesome!" he also said i should watch more Julia Child.

Goat cheese...

I can buy fresh goat's milk very near our house. I am thinking of getting some to be able to make "goat cheese".

It is only heated to 77F (you can go up to 86F but no more) and then an acidifyer culture is added. Couple of tablespoons of cultured buttermilk would do the trick. Along with it, you would need to add 2-3 drops of rennet. If you have no access to it, you can find something called 'junket tablets' in your grocery store, usually by ice cream and baking supplies. This is a weak type of rennet and would be enough to start the enzymatic activity. Cover the pot and wait between 8-12 hours until the curd pulls away from the sides of the pot as a single lump and is covered with about 1/4" whey.

Then I also found this cookie recipe in the newspaper.

GOAT CHEESE COOKIES
1 cup fresh goat cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
3 egg whites
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350*

In a bowl combine goat cheese and sugar, cream together.
Add flour and egg whites, mix.
Spread on a parchment lines baking sheet.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bake until golden brown, 10 - 12 minutes.
Cut into individual serving sizes.

Be Safe...

Bowling ball bugs...

are these not the cutest things...

guess who just got 16 FREE bowling balls.

any other ideas?

Seasons of our life...

if you are between 50- and beyond

you are in the WINTER of your life..

Not the end at all, actually a NEW beginning...

My favorite season...

Ahh you have more wrinkles to your smile,
* unfortunately this is too true...

you take longer to get up and going in the morning..
* isn't that what Aleve is for?

I think you LAUGH more in this season, at least I do...

I cherish every single moment, every little miracle

that happens to come across my path.

I count blessings each and every day.

* because, working where I do, I know how quickly your life can change.

This is the time of your life when you realize

GOD has a great sense of humor and he has blessed

you with it...
* that and grandchildren and the knowledge that I raised two wonderful adults.

Using our milk...

Devonshire Cream also known as Clotted Cream

Make the real thing by putting heavy whipping cream in a double boiler until it is reduced by half, remove it from heat and let it stand for 2 hours then refrigerate it for at least 12 hours. Stir the "crust" down into the cream--the BEST!

Alternate Recipe..
5 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 tablespoon heavy cream, reserved
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted

Beat softened cream cheese, sugar, and one tablespoon reserved cream with a hand mixer until smooth. With a spatula, gently fold in the whipped cream. Do not over mix. It will be a bit lumpy. This is so easy for the children to do! Enjoy!

Here's another recipe...

Place water in small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over water. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes. Stir mixture over low heat until gelatin dissolves. Let stand just until cool but not set, about 10 minutes.

Place sour cream in medium bowl. Stir in gelatin mixture. Beat cream, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl until soft peaks form; fold into sour cream mixture in 2 additions. Cover; chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

• 1 cup chilled sour cream

• 1 cup chilled whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Makes 3 cups.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Devonshire-Cream-15350#ixzz13ZE5l34K

Another Recipe:

4 ounces mascarpone

1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 or 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar

Zest of lemon or lime (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and beat until the mixture holds its shape and looks like softly whipped cream. Use right away or cover and refrigerate the cream until serving time.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Read more: http://www.joyofbaking.com/DevonshireCream.html

cheese making...

SOURCES...

1. www.glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca
2. www.cheesemaking.com
3. www.dairyconnection.com
4. www.hoeggergoats.com
5. www.leeners.com
6. www.moonwiseherbs.com
7. http://fiascofarm.com
8. www.cheese.com
9. www.ilovecheese.com
10. www.slowfood.com
11. www.dairyheritage.com

Check out the above website for information...

GIVEAWAY...

Go to Room Remix...the blog today and sign up for a $60.00 Tupperware Giveaway.
Gotta love Tupperware! Sponsored by Melea.

Another update...

another piece completed...

we will need to get some more sand to raise the ground level...

18 bags to go...
and this morning I found a you tube video on making stained glass stepping stones!
I see these is our future... or mosaic, that would be pretty to.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Yesterday I went to the store and they had some bananas bagged up for clearance...
6 pounds of bananas to be exact for just $1.00...
What would you do with that many bananas?

It turned out to be 13 bananas... I decided to dry six of them...
and Kenneth will be making banana bread with nuts this weekend.
I have homemade butter too AWESOME!

Good meal...

preheat the oven to 350*. Grease 9X9 dish with butter. whisk together 3 ingredients, add half the cheese, ham and the tator tots. Pour into dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes. Should set up and be golden brown.

update...

First we would like to send a BIG...Thank You... to Richard and Dottie for the use of the cement mixer. It just needed a little WD-40 and a twist of a wrench and it works fine.

We built a couple of forms to use for the extension for the porch area...

6 bags of 80 lb. concrete...done...

total is up to 15 bags... only 21 - 22 bags to go...

Kenneth found a pair of concrete bench legs for $15.00,
all we have to do is make a new bench seat.

Morning visitor...

For the last two mornings the dogs have gone out in the backyard and were greeted by this possum. Kenneth has gone out both mornings before he goes to work but has not seen him yet. Only the dogs and i have had that pleasure... What can we do to get him to leave?

Raw milk...

What is raw milk? Milk that comes straight from the cow... see Raw Milk Facts...

Tuesday my friend and i drove to two different dairy farms: Jersey Girls Milk and Texas Daily Harvest.

We both bought 4 gallons fresh milk from Jersey Girls Milk, this is their calving season and they had lots of calves for sale. Boys are $50.00 and girls are $250.00 each. Unfortunately I couldn't fit her in the car.

Sharon also bought seven different types of cheeses from Texas Daily Harvest. We also tasted yogurt and strawberry (made with real strawberries) drinkable yogurt. We saw them making Greek yogurt and got a mini-tour of the farm. They are a full organic farm and sale meat: beef, pork, eggs and produce.

left over butter milk on the left and whey on the right...

Over the last couple of days I took 6 cups cream off two of the four gallons of milk, leaving about an inch of cream in the jug. I froze the cream and the milk for future use. Today I took 2 cups of cream off the third gallon and let in set out on the counter for 2 hours in a quart jar before I started to shake it. After shaking for 20 minutes I had about a 1/2 cup butter and 2 cups 1% milk. Which I placed back in the refrigerator for future use. I also froze that third gallon for later.

Then I shook up the fourth gallon and poured 1/2 gallon into a pan and made some Paneer Cheese. Heating on medium/high heat heat to just before it starts to boil, turn down to medium heat and add 1 cup plain yogurt, continue stirring. You will see the curds start forming, when it separates pour into bowl lined with cheese cloth or muslin. Pull up cloth and drain off whey into bowl...DO NOT DISCARD. Rinse cheese under cold water,squeeze out excess water and place on flat surface with heavy pan on top to flatten it. Let sit 30 minutes, remove cloth and ENJOY.

I still have 1/2 gallon left in the refrigerator which I will use to make some homemade yogurt.
It's basically made like the cheese only you heat the milk to 180*, remove from stove and let cool to 120*. Then take 1 cup yogurt and scoop a little of the cooled milk into a bowl with the yogurt to temper it, mix and then add the remainder of the milk. I cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the microwave. Layer 1 bath towel in the bottom of the microwave, set in the bowel of milk and cover with another towel. Leave undisturbed for 8 hours. (I usually make this up and let setup overnight) I then spoon into 1 cup plastic containers and place in the refrigerator. When you go to eat it you can add anything/flavor you want. If you want a thicker Greek Style yogurt this can be strained though cheese cloth before putting it into containers. If you keep back 1 cup, this can be used to prepare your next batch without having to purchase anymore yogurt.

So out of the four gallons of milk I bought, (cost was $5.00 gallon) I got:

1. 6 cups heavy cream (to be made into more butter later or for recipes that call for heavy cream)
2. 1/2 cup sweet butter
3. 2 cups 1% milk
4. 5 cups whey (use for baking)
5. 8 cups yogurt
   
6. 8 oz. Paneer Cheese
7. 28 cups/2 1/4 gallons milk (frozen...to be used at a later date)
   

What are you doing...

It's 10:00 a.m. on 10/10/2010.

What are you doing right now?

This is a moment in time which won't happen again for another 100 years.

10/13/2010 P. S.
I learned after this post that actually this won't happen for another 400 years! Why? Because it happened on a Sunday.

So what were you doing? I called and spoke to Kenneth to say "it's 10:10 on 10/10/10... Love you. He said "no it's not...its 10:08... so we spoke another couple of minutes. Why can't all clocks be set the same?

I LOVE Fall...

In progress...

Six years ago we started out to redo the front landscaping... well we finally got bacl to it in September. We rented a sod cutter, worth every penny. Marked off the area and got to work.

Kenneth cutting out the grass.

All cut ready to start moving... Where are we putting all this?

There's a low spot on the north side of the driveway where Kenneth parks, we'll put it there.

going pretty quickly...

While taking a break Amanda called and said "be sure you water it well"
so after returning outside God watered.

It actually only rained about 10 minutes...so back to work.

All rolled up ready to move...

There! that step is done.

We planted the 3 Red Leaf Japanese maple trees I bought in April.

I have been stockpiling supplies all summer.
Concrete, rubber mulch, 2X4's for edging and a planter...

We filled in the low spot...

Anybody have a cement mixer we can borrow?

To be continued...

Get out and Walk...

OK, this is what everybody tells you. "All you have to do is get out and walk for exercise." Well, I have discovered that's easier said than done. So when I saw an add in the newspaper asking for volunteers at the Runnin' WJ Ranch (check out the video) I called and am now a sidewalker.

The one thing I discovered is: you have to keep moving... no excuses, because other people are depending on you... horses are taller than I remember... It work my shoulders and lower body... I have to wear real shoes, no slip ons... and I had fun. I am now signed up for 2 1/2 hrs per week.

Staying Put...

When we moved to our home in Texarkana we had been married 24 years and moved 12 times in that time. They were not always long moves. One was a total of 5 feet. But if you have ever moved you know that a move is a move whether its 1100 miles across the country or 5 foot. You still have to pack and clean. This has been the longest we have ever stayed in one place, 10 years this month. That's an anniversary of sorts. Then this morning I was reading this post and realized that we are finally home. Read "Staying Put".

Thomas Jefferson's Words to the Wise...

Oh...if we'll only listen...

'When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.' Thomas Jefferson

'The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.' Thomas Jefferson

'It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.' Thomas Jefferson

'I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.' Thomas Jefferson

'My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.' Thomas Jefferson

'No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.' Thomas Jefferson

'The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.' Thomas Jefferson

'The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.' Thomas Jefferson

'To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.' Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: 'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

from "Marmee's Pantry"

A Blog Hop...

I have been following a blog hop for GO quilt cutter. Go to "Cotton Cocktails" to watch her video.

A Giveaway...

I have been reading about quilting... so to get started i am entering in a giveaway on "The Last Piece" for some material, check out her blog.

Shine On, Harvest Moon...

September 21... Jupiter Pays a Visit

All hail and behold the sky king! This year, giant Jupiter is closer than ever. Not since 1963 has Jupiter been so close, so bright, so easily seen—a result of its slow, oval orbit around the Sun that will take nearly 12 Earth years.

Jupiter rises at dusk, reaches opposition on the 21st, and shines at its brightest since 1963. At a magnitude –2.9, Jupiter dominates the sky all night long.

Interestingly, Uranus comes to opposition on the 21st, too, so the two worlds stand side by side, especially at midmonth.

Finding Jupiter should be easy. Look halfway up the southern sky for the night’s brightest star. This is Jupiter! Dazzling and astonishingly conspicuous against the faint stars of Pisces, it will be at its best at midnight this month.

September, 22... Autumnal Equinox

Fall begins. The autumnal equinox is defined as the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from north to south. The celestial equator is the circle in the celestial sphere halfway between the celestial poles. It can be thought of as the plane of Earth's equator projected out onto the sphere. Another definition of fall is nights of below-freezing temperatures combined with days of temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The word equinox means "equal night"; night and day are the same length of time. The spring equinox is in late March. In addition to the equal hours of daylight and darkness, the equinoxes are times when the Sun's apparent motion undergoes the most rapid change. Around the time of the equinoxes, variations in the position on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets can be noticed from one day to the next by alert observers.

The Harvest Moon

But around the date of the Harvest Moon, the Moon rises at almost the same time for a number of nights in our intermediate northern latitudes. Why is the Harvest Moon different? Well, remember that the zodiac is the band of constellations through which the Moon travels from night to night. The section of the zodiac band in which the full Moon travels around the start of autumn is the section that forms the most shallow angle with the eastern horizon.

Because the Moon's orbit on successive nights is more nearly parallel to the horizon at that time, its relationship to the eastern horizon does not change appreciably, and the Earth does not have to turn as far to bring up the Moon. Thus, for several nights near the full Harvest Moon, the Moon may rise as little as 23 minutes later on successive nights (at about 42 degrees north latitude), and there is an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, a traditional aid to harvest crews. By the time the Moon has reached last quarter, however, the typical 50-minute delay has returned.

September 23... Next Full Moon

The Moon has a personal relationship with us all, and folklore has it that courting and birthing are influenced by the Moon. Read on . . .

• According to folklore, if a young woman sees a dove and glimpses the new Moon at the same instant, she should repeat: "Bright Moon, clear Moon, Bright and fair, Lift up your right foot, There'll be a hair." When she removes her shoe, she'll find a hair the color of her future husband's.
• Marriages consummated during the full Moon are most prosperous and happy, according to ancient Greeks, while a waning Moon bodes ill for wedded bliss.
• The full Moon is an ideal time to accept a proposal of marriage.
• The Navajos, among others, believe that the full Moon's pull on a woman's amniotic fluids increases the chances of giving birth at this time. Some nurses and midwives claim the new Moon is also an active time for births.

we had a party...

it was a "WordWorld" party...

Grumpy blew up balloons...

How BIG will they go?

Dog...

and Duck were there...

and Bee...

there were family and friends...

hamburgers...

and hot dogs...

and a "PIE" cake...

and also a "CAKE" cake...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR EMILY...

BLOW OUT the candle...

and there was ice cream too...

and presents...

and BUBBLES...