My House Talks

 As the world turns, it's cooling down in sunny California.  It's a lovely 45 degrees this morning.  That means it's time for the house to talk to me.  Does anyone else have rooms that carry on conversations with you?  Sometimes the creaks and snaps get a little scary.  Last night it was in the attic.  You know what THAT means ... is there someone camping out up there???

You may remember my neighbor who lived in his ex-wife's attic for about a year without her knowing?  Yeah ... that one!  

Last night was the coup de gras!!!  You know what it sounds like when you hit one of those door stoppers and it "boings"?  Well that happened while I was sitting right there watching TV.  Cooper was beside me, so it wasn't him.  I ran around the house but found nothing.  It makes for an interesting night of conversations with myself.

So yesterday was a great day of celebrating our Veterans who signed up for the worst job in America.  Many didn't survive and many were NOT welcomed home.  The Elks Lodge does everything they can to thank them for their service.  

It was parade day in our little town.  Here's our Elks trailer load heading out and down the street.  The guy on the left is Ken Working.  He's one of those guys who does everything for his fellow Veterans.  He would go get our 103 year old Frank and bring him to the lodge, wheelchair and all.  If not for him, Frank would never have left his house.

Ken also petitioned the government on Franks behalf to get all the medals he deserved from his time in the service.  All the records were burned up in a fire, so Ken worked hour after hour to find everything he needed to prove Frank deserved that Purple Heart and several others that were presented to him at our lodge.  

He even made sure Frank was the Grand Marshal in last years parade.  

And of course there was our Sheriff's Posse.  They are one of the few left who ride silver saddles and have been not only to the Rose Bowl many times, but rode in the Presidential Inauguration Parade.  We're pretty proud of them.

Once that was over, I headed off to do some accounting work.  I don't mind ... she is the sweetest 93 year old lady on the planet.  I was shocked to find I had not been there this year at all.  I was SURE I had it half way done, but boy was I wrong.  It takes awhile to do one account, let alone EIGHT.  My fingers weren't working so good in the beginning, but I finally got my groove on.  Four hours later I was done.  Whew!!!

When I got home, I was starving.  I practically swallowed a couple chicken tenders whole before setting about my next kitchen failure.  While looking for something else, I came upon that Pennsylvania Dutch salad dressing recipe.  Let's whip up a batch!  A tiny batch, since I wasn't really sure how it would turn out.  There's just something that gives me pause when it comes to eating CREAM on SALAD.  

Hmmmm it doesn't say what KIND of vinegar to use.  Red wine?  Apple cider?  White?  I could only easily find the red wine, so that's what I used.  It's amazing the reaction that occurs.  The vinegar instantly thickened the cream like it had been whipped.  

I got out a few bites of Cole slaw and plopped a bit on dressing on top.  Really, it's too thick.  Maybe some milk to thin it down.  It was good ... sort of ... I'm not really sure how to explain it.  It tasted good, I just couldn't get past the fact that I was eating cream on my salad.  I think maybe a different flavor of vinegar would be better.  

On the other hand, I did buy a bottle of Ken's Sweet Vidalia Onion dressing ... and OH BABY!  I absolutely LOVE it!!!  Thank you thank you for the recommendation!  

My house and I had several more conversations while I sewed the binding on yet another quilt.  Only TWO more to go once this one is hand sewn.  The sewing room doesn't talk as loud as the family room.  That's when I heard the low hum.  Okay house ... I'm about done with the noises.  

That's when the heater suddenly came on.  How could that be?  The temperature is set at 63 degrees and it's 68.  Why oh why would the heat come on?  I messed with it for a few minutes before yelling STOP IT!!!  It finally turned off.  

Maybe I better go check the attic after all!!!