I have "The Tree of Life" by Israel Regardie on my Kindle and really enjoy it.  I read it off and on all the time.  That's another reason in favor of the Kindle, you have your books with you all the time.  Let's face it you have different moods for different books.  Well, with the Kindle you have all your books all the time.  I'm even surprised how much I love it.  Sometimes I have a problem with my hands shaking and with no feeling in the ends of my fingers  holding and trying to turn pages is sometimes very difficult.  But I learned to adjust to it as I love to read.  With the Kindle none of that is a problem.  Not only do I not have to worry about the weight of the book (I love thick books, if I'm enjoying the books I never want it to end) but now I can smoothly read through page after page and really be in the story.  It's great and everyday I find something  new to love about my Kindle.  I also bought a light to  pinch on my cover, oh, and of course a cover for it.  Mine is black, I just couldn't make up my mind if I wanted a colored one or what.  I can't say enough good things about my Kindle and I will continue to add more good things.

Our weather had not improved and doesn't look like it will for a couple more days.  We have rain in the forecast for the next two days then Thursday we are to have Sun all day.

 Eleanor, Elviria and Edgar our cats are doing great.  I fix blankets in my windows and they love to lay in them and watch outside.  My husband made the windows with a cupboard under them and and a lid that raises up.  It's great storage.

 Tasha, Olivia Newton John, and our new member Whitney Houston are doing great.  Whitney follows Tasha all over and is even playing with Tasha's toys.  Actually Tasha is a little put out about that but she seems to be warming up to her.  I think she realizes she has a new friend to play with.

Esme and Rosalie the goats are having a good time as Jim enlarged their pen a little so they  have new territory to examine.

The Pigeons are just beautiful.  Love to watch them fly around.

I made a vegetable stew, sort of.  I just cook, onion, garlic, carrots, celery until starting to get soft then add a can of any beans.  Today it was red or kidney beans.  Salt and pepper add a dash of soy sauce and it's ready.  I also made brown rice and we are having mashed sweet potatoes.  We will have this with vegetable crackers or french bread.  Tootles

New Year, New Rules of Honor...

What am I talking about?  This year I have decided to do my best to only shop in stores that are NOT chains.  I think I can do it.  Let me share with you some of my local businesses that I do shop at.
First there is the Grocery Store..... Sunflower  located at 726 Sutter Street Yuba City, CA It's a health food store with a deli.  I love this place.  You walk in and the smell of spices is everywhere.  They have fresh veggies, mostly locally grown.  They have in house bread, many varieties plus buns and even very small loafs for those of us who are a family of one or two.  A  very large supply of of health food brands in refrigerator and freezer.  A large section of vitamins and fresh herbs and many bulk items....nuts, beans, granola and you grind your own peanut  butter.  They also have local honey which you pour into your own container, which I always forget and have to use the paper container in the store.  The deli's food is vegetarian and so delicious.  They have sandwiches, soups, burritos, salads, nacho's and much more.  The owners and staff are very helpful and friendly.  My husband and I try to have lunch there a couple times a month along with  doing some shopping.  It's a great place to shop and just hang out but a word of warning the place is packed by noon with a long line so get there early or have a late lunch.

I know what you are thinking, I have already stated I do go to the store we all love to hate but what I am telling you is...... I'm going to do my best to only shop in stores that are local, locally owned   and not a chain.  Wish me luck.  Tootles

January 8th, 2010 Friday

Yeah, it's Friday.  Don't really know why I'm yeahing (is that a word)  as Friday's now are not the same as they use to be.  A very long time ago you looked forward to the day because the weekend was ahead and no homework.  That was a very long time ago (I'm not kidding).  Then you were glad because it was the end of the work week and you had two days off  (Lets just say it has been quite awhile since that has happened).  Now,  Friday is the same as any other day of the week so I take my yeah back and just say It's Friday and it's raining as I type this.

I did get my walk in today.  Five times around.  I'm all happy about this and tell my Granddaughter Vanesa about it and she says your suppose to walk 10,000 steps a day.  WHAT!  Here I thought I was doing great and now realize my measly 2,000 steps is not near enough.  Well now with knowing that I must go around more or figure out how to get more steps in.

I'm now reading one of my free books from Amazon to my Kindle,  "Ultralongevity: The Seven Steps program.  I must say, I am enjoying the book.  It explains it's the immune system that causes the problems with our health and how with these seven steps you could make sure your immune system is as healthy as can be.  I'm reading about breathing properly right now.  It does make sense and believe me I'm very willing to take steps to improve healthy living.  I will keep you posted how it's going.

Wanted to show you the front of our cottage.  My husband took this with his iphone, (can't you tell).  I don't know why it has the front of his phone here.   Hey, if by chance you needed to know just what time we took this photo and what we used,  well, there you have it.    Just enjoy the middle.  Tasha, my dog is on the inside and that is my cat Elviria on the outside.  Tootles

January 7th, 2010 Thursday

It's foggy, cloudy and just dreary.  I keep hoping the sun will come out but after seeing the weather report for the rest of the nation I will not complain.  Let's put a positive spin on this and say we are heading in the right direction as Spring is just around the corner.

Must tell you Whitney Houston has made herself at home.  She seems to fit right in.  Doesn't do much barking and after a few miss haps now realizes she has her own door and can come and go as she pleases.  I would not have an animal without also having a dog and cat door.  I mean think about it.  Our animals love it and have their own routine coming and going.  We have a 4" to 6" square hole in the fence that we knew was there but didn't bother to fix as our cats use it when they are exploring the orchards beside us.  So we left it, mainly for the cats in case there was ever a time they needed to get inside quick.   Well, guess who found it ?  Our own new member, Whitney Houston.  Thank goodness my husband happened to see her out the window playing on the other side of the fence next to the ditch.  I swear, now we don't know what to do.




This is the oak tree I walk by.  Will get a closer picture of it tomorrow.  On the right is peach orchards and to the left and back are walnut orchards.  It's really a beautiful walk and like I said before, 400 steps all the way around.   Tootles

January 6, 2010 Wednesday

I have been reading  "The Crossroads Cafe", which I got for free through "Kindle Nation Daily".  It's a good story, for some reason it seems familiar to me.  I think I read it a long time ago but now parts of it are updated for present day.  Anywho, I am really enjoying it.  I've also started, Stephen Kings new book, "Under the Dome".  I'm just not happy about him holding out with the Kindle edition until  Dec. 24, 09, when the hardbacks came out November 10, 09.  I believe someone said he did it for the book store sales.  While I understand his message we know what is coming and it's important to figure out how you can fit in to the new age.  I have read, the old book store will probably not be around.  Notice I said old book store.  I do believe there will be book stores, they will just be different.  I can see it now in 50 years someone will have a hardback of   "The Twilight Series", and be astonished at holding it in their hands.  O.K. maybe 100 years, but you know what I mean.
It will be interesting to see how all this goes.  Everything seems to be changing so fast.  I  mean  my Mom, went to bed carrying a candle or oil lamp up stairs.  Can you imagine letting kids today do that.  This year has promised to be prosperous so come along with me and we will look over the fence and see just what's coming.  Tootles

January 6th, 2010 Wednesday

A very warm Good Morning to all of you in snow country.  Stay in and stay warm!  Easy for me to say I know.  We are having a bit of a cold spell here also in Magic City.   I do not like it at all and want the sun back.

Well, Kindle Nation Daily did it again !!!  Free today...  Not one, not two, not five but eight free books today.  Eight, count them 12345678.  I am so thrilled and they couldn't have come  at a better time as they are all about, fitness, exercise, diet, healthy food, Giving Thanks and all about your body and taking care of it.  Now I ask you what better time, right after the Holidays when everyone has ate a little too much and drank a little too much and we are trying to get back to normal.  Well, what ever normal is we are trying to find it.  Thank you, Thank you, Steve.

Our new comer to our family Whitney Houston is doing fine.  In fact she is sitting beside me in the chair  snuggled up.  Hey, I told you it's cold.  I wasn't kidding.

Would you like a fast cookie recipe....  My husband found it on the internet.  It's a peanut butter cookie made with no flour.  O.K.  I know what you are thinking.  I just told you about the free books on diet, exercise and fitness and now I'm giving you a cookie recipe.  You measure 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky) 1 cup sugar and 1 egg.  Mix well.  Drop by  spoonful on cookie sheet, bake 8 to 10 min at 350'.  They  are great especially after  that work out and long walk.  Ha ! Ha !   Just kidding.   I didn't say you had to eat them you could make them for company.

My favorite easy snack for the evening is sugared popcorn.  Hey, I got it out of a Weight Watchers recipe book and yes it was in the cheers section.  This calls for simple popcorn you  buy in a bag or jar.  Not for the microwave nor is it in its own pan (jiffy pop).  Pour in  1/2 cup of popcorn in a sauce pan that has 1 tablespoon of oil heating.  Just before it starts to pop (you'll be able to hear the sizzling sound) take a 1/2 cup of sugar (less or more it's up to how sweet you want it) and sprinkle over kernals in hot pan replace lid and continue to shake.  You must keep shaking until the popping stops or it will burn.  Very good snack.

What can I say... Diet, exercise, fitness books and snacks.  Now what  more could you ask for?  Tootles

January 5, 2010 Tuesday

Well guess what is new at my house? Let's just say there's a new girl in town and her name is Whitney Houston. She's all black with a little white on her nose and she's a tiny Tasha,(my other dog). Yes, we have a new member to our family. Right now she is next door with Olivia Newton John (the neighbors dog, which is a chihuahua and tan colored). You see our yards connect and we both have a dog and cat door so our animals visit each other all the time. I think they are having a concert! Ha! Whitney is also a chihuahua (I spent a good five minutes looking up how to spell chihuahua on my kindle dictionary) but a very tiny one. Much smaller then Olivia. Tasha is also mostly black with some white markings on her nose. She, Tasha is not happy about this new member, she is so spoiled and can't believe we have allowed this dog in. Ha! Someone is going to need some extra attention. My cats, Eleanor, Elviria and Edgar do not know what to think, they just keep watching her from a distance. If you want to see my animals go to secretportis.blogspot.com.

Foggy, cloudy and a chance for rain tonight. Yuk! I'm waiting for the sun.

I just put a pot of beans on and will be adding some vegetables along with making cornbread (with real butter and honey I might add). Looks like a great day to read on my Kindle. Check to see if I have a blog from "Kindle Nation Daily" or "I love my Kindle" or "Amazon Daily". They all keep me informed as I have stated in a earlier post. Tootles