Well, the day off yesterday worked wonders. The goats’ personalities returned, they enjoyed being free, and we felt relaxed.

Gateway Stables and Riding Academy has several outdoor riding rings, a huge indoor ring, many fields, a very large barn with horses in box stalls. We sat with the goats in the fields reading. Our outdoor adventure was cut short by lightning, thunder, and torrential rain. Goats do not do rain. They think they will shrink or melt or something. We all relocated to the large old barn and Bill and I read while the goats explored.

Southern Appalachian descendants of 17th century English, Scottish, and Irish immigrants created the American art form we call Bluegrass. Appalachian music is derived from various influences, including the ballads, hymns, and fiddle music of the British Isles (particularly Scotland), and the African music and blues of early African Americans. It is a mixture of several types of music, including old-time, country, and blues, but particularly mountain string bands.

Do you have a favorite memory from your early childhood? Mine involves my daddy and model cars.
Unlike me, both of my parents had a passion for cars. Their favorite ones were from the 1950s and muscle cars. Being raised on the farm, my mom also loved tractors. Anyway, in 1969 they bought a new Roadrunner. They were excited because it was muscle car. I loved it because it had an image of the Coyote on the carburetor and the horn sounded like the roadrunner from the cartoon: “Beep. Beep.”

One of my favorite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show was the one in which Barney rigs up a camera in Wally’s Service Station to catch a thief. Of course Barney has to demonstrate his criminal genius to none other than Gomer Pyle. The resulting photograph is of Barney demonstrating his setup. Shrewd Barney Fife failed to reset the camera to possibly catch a picture of the real crook.

These cupcakes don't need frosting. Instead, sprinkle tops with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon when you take them from the oven. They are delicious. With electric mixer, cream butter and add sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Then stir in beaten egg and 1/4 cup applesauce.

With January being National Tea Month, and since most teas are derived from a tree, I thought I’d study up and share some things I did not know about the world’s most popular beverage.

There are around 1,100 US military Veterans presently living in Union County. At any time, a Veteran may have questions and need advice about what benefits are available from federal, state, county, and local resources. A Veteran may need professional assistance in completing and filing benefits claims or even someone to represent them in a Veterans Administration (VA) hearing. That is where a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) comes in.

Opioid pain-relieving medicines are not more effective than a placebo in relieving acute back and neck pain and may even cause harm, according to a recent trial. The researchers say this is proof that treatment guidelines should be updated to advise against the use of opioids for this purpose.

OCTOBER 9, 2021. Now in Des Moines IA. Long day of driving (for the older, shall we say “elderly?”, version of us) and for the animals. We left Hobby Horse Overnight Stables in Mitchell SD around 8:30 and arrived at Hidden Creek around 4. Google predicted a 5 hour trip….but that was at speed and probably with no stops. Spent some time looking for a dump station for the RV as the black water tank was getting full.

“I’m ready for some fresh seafood!” My husband Tim said when we drove over the Florida state line. Actually, he also said that before we left Tennessee.