“Every Child Should Know” The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen is a Christmas story every child should know. (Christmas Stories Every Child Should Know (1913) is a crappy old book every child should have!)The Fir Tree was the inspiration for Charlie Brown’s “Charlie Brown-like” tree! A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition (Lee Mendelson,
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen (1845) FAR down in the forest, where the warm sun and the fresh air made a sweet resting-place, grew a pretty little fir-tree; and yet it was not happy, it wished so much to be tall like its companions— the pines and firs which grew around it. The
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
We interrupt the silence to pose a few questions. 1) What in heaven’s name are you doing in the back yard? 2) Don’t you know the good acorns are up on the hill just a few yards from the tree stand? 3) Where is your mother? 4) Do you by any chance know where your
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
All. Social Functions. All I checked the catalog at both libraries and the book is available to be checked out.
Like this:
Like Loading...
I thought it might be a hoot to spend some time reading about the years leading up to the first Thanksgiving from the perspective of folks on the other side of the pond, so I pulled a few crappy old English history books off the shelves.From pages 137-8 of A Manual of English History by Edward
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
It going to be cold tonight.When it’s cold, the smart thing to do is divvy up the space into small units & heat only those that are necessary.Rocky is under the covers. Missy’s on top of them. The door is closed and I can still smell Daughter C’s fire which warms the greater surrounds.I’ll go
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
Miss M did not think too much of the fact that I simply bulk uploaded the photos from the Christmas Market the other evening. She was particularly troubled by all the work you, Dear Reader, would have to do to see the store front candy canes.I have no excuse other than pure and simple laziness. Fortunately,
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
Rocky is doing well. Thank you all for asking! He is not supposed to exert himself for 10 days. Daughter C has sequestered him in her room. He comes out occasionally to say “Hello” and to see what’s up in the world. I think he’s recovering quite nicely. Miss Missy, on the other hand, is a mess.
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
$2.94 to the coffers of Mississippi There are days when I think the Girls & I should be in charge of these events. Only one shop had cider. If WE were running the show, all shops would be encouraged to have cider. Here’s a bit of what I found picture-worthy: This you have to pay
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
First Daughter C fire of the season– a Beauty! Daughter C is such a fanatic. She refused to start a fire until I’d moved the highly flammable books and deer away from the fire box. I fuss at her for being overly cautious but… . Who am I to judge? She might be right. And believe
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
Rocky is having surgery tomorrow morning.
Like this:
Like Loading...
I wasn’t making that up. I even marked a passage to share: That public virtue which among the ancients was denominated patriotism, is derived from a strong sense of our own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government of which we are members. Such a sentiment, which had rendered the legions of
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
So. I am sitting a few seats down from a woman who cannot refrain from placing call after call after call on her not-iPhone6. If it were not so annoying it would be entertaining. I have learned that she’s thinking of selling her house and the address of said house. I have learned where she
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
I’m re-doing the bookshelves in the BunkHouse! We are moving at the speed of . . . putting things back together here at the Farm after the Lost Summer. As evidence, I submit to you this shelf which is finished and is accidentally symmetrical. God works in mysterious ways
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
what’s happening here on the Farm. (Yes. That is is a 10ml beaker. I have hundreds of them!) Take this evening, for example. I went to lock up the Jager Haus (formerly known as as the ‘Bunk House’ which is still not yet put together properly) and I came upon this: What the H-E-Double
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
we manage to shimmy through that break in the line? Okay.Okay. I know that we– as in my location indicated by that little stick thing– aren’t going to shimmy through anything. We are pretty much stationary. We don’t shimmy.But what do you want to bet that little break in that big mean green line breaks up
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
Data Everyone– which is to say each and every solitary individual who has ever lived and is worth his/her salt– wants to to consider him/her/itself special. And so it should come as no surprise that Mr. Big Food & I thought ourselves quite special this evening. Really? How many other folks in our little county
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
“Hello? Have you seen Marica? I’ve been looking everywhere for her!” “What? No! Who!! I’ll eat your tail if you keep talking, you measly amphibian!!” “Now, Missy. That’s no way to talk to the … gecko… lizard… chameleon… , is it?” “RUFF!!”
Like this:
Like Loading...
“ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME? THAT WAS EXCESSIVE CELEBRATION? UNSPORTSMAN-LIKE CONDUCT?” I am not an LSU fan. I am certainly not a fan of That School Up North. BUT ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Two calls in a row?? Let’s just play tiddlywinks. Neither of those two calls was justified. Please note my formal protest against
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
“Mom?” “Mom? Where’s that deer skull?” “Ummm… . In that chest in the foyer.” Right side. Top shelf. Because, like, doesn’t everyone have a deer skull in a chest in the foyer? The steer mandible is in the garage near the Area 51 rock. The goat skull is on top of one set of encyclopedias– I
Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_modal","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":1000,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Whats-happening-copy-4-1.jpg","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"All current contributions go toward redesigning the cover, and publishing an eBook of Miss Missy's School.","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Tip!","payment_request_label":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","form_subtitle":"All contributions go toward cover redesign and eBook publication of Miss Missy's School: Book I A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for your help and encouragement!","payment_confirmation_title":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
{"date_format":"F j, Y","time_format":"g:i a","wordpress_permalink_only":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/2014\/page\/2\/","all_default_visual_states":"inherit","modal_visual_state":false,"user_is_logged_in":false,"stripe_api_key":"pk_live_51H1In9KDLfKHlvGgsliZe4efNchBVkhUvpkfy3DJTf5J6Kumgyzt5CgC0gY8E4J6dsAemyUcNLRf68pdCdkj8ZWn0021C5X4gj","stripe_account_country_code":"US","setup_link":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-admin\/admin.php?page=tip-jar-wp&mpwpadmin1=welcome&mpwpadmin_lightbox=do_wizard_health_check","close_button_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/closebtn.png"}
