The only thing worse than puddles of water swamping my back yard are the very happy and healthy weeds that have begun to take it all over! The battle is ongoing but alas! I am weary! I was able to take a bouquet of viburnum (snowball), purple iris and mock orange to my friend Mary Christiani before the monsoon season hit and washed away all of the delicate petals. Surprisingly I have nine or 10 gorgeous blooms on a columbine I planted last year but one never knows with Mother Nature. It is Sunday afternoon as I sit in my back yard and the sun is shining and the wind is blowing and although a tad chilly, I am basking in the blessings of my flowers, my critters, my Wi-Fi and my tablet: I am finally able to be productive AND enjoy the sunlight!
I have new neighbors: Robin Lynn Lawson and her canine critters Madison, Cassie and Maybug. Robin has completely renovated her new home and we’ve all been eagerly monitoring her progress for several months. My kids, especially Princess Xena, are however a bit too concerned with the activities of the new occupants. It seems the Princess has been harassing the new neighbors a bit too much through the slats in the privacy fence so I have introduced my latest parenting tool: a water pistol! Now, now! I am not using my pint-sized puppy for target practice but by shooting the water over or in front of her, she immediately corrects her errant behavior. So far, it’s working! And considering how much cats dislike being wet I am hoping that the Terrible Twin Tomcats will cease to climb the privacy fence to sneak a peek into Robin’s backyard. As strange as it sounds, my housewarming gift to Robin was her very own water pistol!
My Two Terrible Twin Toms pulled a fast one on me the other night! As exasperated as I was, I am likewise a bit proud. The Two Terrible Twin Toms won’t be a full year old until June 23rd, but for the most part, they are full grown (neutered) black cats with a few wisps of white hair in strategic places (neck, ‘armpits’ and ‘down under’). I have collars for Very Special Agents Anthony DiNozzo and Jethro Gibbs but I take DiNozzo’s off when he is inside because he overreacts to it which is a polite way of saying he scratches himself bare. The other night, I was sure that both cats were safely inside the house but just to be positive, I began calling for the kitties but only one responded. Afraid that Gibbs had escaped during a puppy potty break, I enlarged the search perimeter to include the back yard and outside porch areas as well as closets in the house. Still no sign of Gibbs. I gave up after two hours and headed for bed where I was confronted by not one but two collarless cats! Gibbs had taken his off, too but since only one cat would respond to me at a time, I thought it was the same cat not the two, taking turns. Pretty sneaky!
The Red HOT Hatters were able to secure a position as a Platinum Level Sponsor for the second year in a row for the Switzerland County Animal Shelter’s 7th Annual Shelter Shuffle 5K Run/Walk to be held on Saturday, June 17th. The next Red HOT Hatters meeting is being planned for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17th, at Jewell’s on Main in Warsaw, Kentucky.
Donations of household items, books, clothes and et cetera are also being accepted by the Red HOT Hatters for the County Wide Yard Sale, also to be held on Saturday, June 17th. For pick up, contact Kay Cook at (812) 594-2281. Please price your donations. All monies will be donated to the Antoinette “Toni” Kniola Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation.
Although we had already begun making plans for this month’s Patriot ‘Bargain Alley’ we will have to change the dates to Friday, May 19th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, May 20th from 9 a.m. to Noon. Hopefully even more people will take advantage of the sale and join in. The alley runs between Highway 156 and Front Street in Patriot and beside the Patriot Baptist Church. There are four residences, three garages, a carport and the church that utilize that alley. Buy, sell or trade! Anyone who wishes to join in is more that welcome. No charge for setup. Feel free to contact me at (812) 594-2281 with suggestions or questions.
My social calendar this past week wasn’t nearly as full but definitely full enough for me! Monday started out with Mary Christiani and I accompanying our friend June Lack on her doctor’s visit topped with lunch at Bob Evans, of course. That night was the Patriot Town Board meeting for the month of May. Slowly but surely, we are re-building the Memorial Park. Unfortunately, materials originally used in the construction have proven to be substandard. Our goal is to have it completed in time for the Fourth of July and it appears that Matt Lieland will accomplish that goal.
Wednesday started off with the weekly Patriotic Rosary at the Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church at 10:15 a.m., which includes prayers for every state in the United States and every government entity and individual involved. Pretty awesome task when you think about it. I’m making AJ’s part of my once daily routine again. It appears that I might have been following Shannon Phipps that day – from lunch at AJ’s to the Women’s Giving Circle Dinner at the Art Center that evening. Saturday, I attended the Eastern Star meeting for the first time since becoming a blonde. I think I may have confused some people with the ‘new’ me. My friends Dawn (Boggs) Elston and her husband Dillion knew me though. We had a pleasant visit in the lot before the meeting. Her favorite topic of discussion is Grandkids and very rightfully so!
In honor of Mother’s Day, here is my Mother’s favorite corn recipe:
MOM’S SCALLOPED CORN
1 can – Creamed corn
1 cup – Bread
or Cracker crumbs
1 – Egg
1 T. – Sugar
½ to ¾ cup – Milk
3 T. – Melted Butter
½ – Onion, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
Combine in order listed, pour into a shallow buttered baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.
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If you have anything for me to include in this article, please send it to me. Information can be received any day of the week but normally my deadline is Sunday at noon for that week’s issue of the paper. Any news received later will appear in the following week’s article. If you need something in on a particular date be sure and give it to me early. Thank you for sending me what you do every week – I couldn’t do this without you!
You may contact me several ways: by leaving a note of message inside the cat mailbox in front of 1995 Front Street in Patriot; or by calling my home at (812) 594-2281; or dropping me a note at P.O. Box #01, Patriot, Indiana, 47038. In addition, contact KAY E COOK on Facebook or online at PatriotNews1995@gmail.com.