Easy corn on the cob!

Corn is overflowing in our neck of the woods! This video gives you the easiest, fastest way to get it onto your plate!

It really, really works! I've been doing this for a long time, too. No more boiling water and messy silk to deal with!

Just remember, that ear of corn is going to be very hot when you take it out of the microwave. Use  two pot holders!

Source: Captainds.com

Today's funny :o)

Invasion.....

.... of the Stink Bugs

We get them all year long, but now that the nights are getting cooler we are swamped with the damned things.

We call them "twitter bugs" because of the sound they make when the fly into you.

 You never want to swat one hard when they land on your arm or clothes because they just explode.

 They just ooze a yellow liquid that smells soooo bad!

 Bug spays don't work either. The only thing we find that gets rid of them is a good old fashion fly swatter. But you have to be careful that you don't hit them hard enough for them to squish.
 

Even Charlie and the girls won't eat them!

Source: http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Halyomorpha halys

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), an insect not previously seen on our continent, was apparently accidentally introduced into eastern Pennsylvania. It was first collected in September of 1998 in Allentown, but probably arrived several years earlier.
As of January 2015, Halyomorpha halys has been recorded in the following 49 counties, although it is probable that they are in all counties:

Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Franklin, Huntington, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Union, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York

It is also recorded from many other states such as:

California, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia

Sightings have also been reported in the following states however this is not to imply that there are reproducing populations in those states:

Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin

This true bug in the insect family Pentatomidae is known as an agricultural pest in its native range of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Recently, the BMSB has become a serious pests of fruit, vegetables and farm crops in the Mid-Atlantic region and it is probable that it will become a pest of these commodities in other areas in the United States.
BMSB becomes a nuisance pest both indoors and out when it is attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days in search of protected, overwintering sites. BMSB  occasionally reappears during warmer sunny periods throughout the winter, and again as it emerges in the spring.

Description

Adults are approximately 17 mm long (25 mm = one inch) and are shades of brown on both the upper and lower body surfaces (Fig. 1). They are the typical “shield” shape of other stink bugs, almost as wide as they are long. To distinguish them from other stink bugs, look for lighter bands on the antennae and darker bands on the membranous, overlapping part at the rear of the front pair of wings. They have patches of coppery or bluish-metallic colored puntures (small rounded depressions) on the head and pronotum. The name “stink bug” refers to the scent glands located on the dorsal surface of the abdomen and the underside of the thorax.
The eggs are elliptical (1.6 x 1.3 mm), light yellow to yellow-red with minute spines forming fine lines. They are attached, side-by-side, to the underside of leaves in masses of 20 to 30 eggs.
There are five nymphal instars (immature stages). They range in size from the first instar at 2.4 mm to the fifth instar that is 12 mm in length. The eyes are a deep red. The abdomen is a yellowish red in the first instar and progresses to off-white with reddish spots in the fifth instar. Protuberances are found before each of the abdominal scent glands on the dorsal surface. The legs, head and thorax are black. Spines are located on the femur, before each eye, and several on the lateral margins of the thorax (Fig. 2).

Figure 1. Adult brown marmorated stink bug.

Figure 2. BMSB nymphs on Trumpet Creeper

Life History

This species probably has a single generation per year in Pennsylvania depending on the temperatures.  Warm spring and summer conditions could permit the development of two or three generations.  However, in parts of sub-tropical China, records indicate from four to possibly six generations per year. Adults will emerge sometime in the spring of the year (late April to mid-May), and mate and deposit eggs from May through August. The eggs hatch into small black and red nymphs that go through five molts. Adults begin to search for overwintering sites starting in September through the first half of October.

Damage

In its native range, it feeds on a wide variety of host plants. Fruits attacked include apples, peaches, figs, mulberries, citrus fruits and persimmons. This true bug has also been reported on many ornamental plants, weeds, soybeans and beans for human consumption. Feeding on tree fruits such as apple results in a characteristic distortion referred to as “cat facing,” that renders the fruit unmarketable as a fresh product.

Apple Damage

This insect is becoming an important agricultural pest in Pennsylvania. In 2010, it produced severe losses in some apple and peach orchards by damaging peaches and apples.  It also has been found feeding on blackberry, sweet corn, field corn and soybeans.  In neighboring states it has been observed damaging tomatoes, lima beans and green peppers.

Peach and Sweet Corn Damage

These insects can produce allergic reactions (rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis) in some individuals who are sensitive to the bugs’ odor (an aeroallergen). These chemicals are produced by dorsal scent glands. Individuals sensitive to the odors of cockroaches and lady beetles are also affected by the BMSB.  Additionally, if the insects are crushed or smashed against exposed skin they have been reported to produce dermatitis at the point of contact.  This is particularly important regarding agricultural workers picking fruits and vegetables.
The stink bug will not reproduce inside structures or cause damages.  If many of them are squashed or pulled into a vacuum cleaner, their smell can be quite apparent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

YUCKY!

The Shifou Mountain Path

Would you walk along this wooden path?

Here is how it was made:

From: http://www.weirdasianews.com/2012/03/11/dangerous-job-wooden-path-shifou-mountain/

One Dangerous Job: The Wooden Path up Shifou Mountain

Building precarious paths along the sides of mountains is one of those jobs that should qualify both as gainful employment and a dangerous circus act.

Surely there are few things more dangerous than working thousands of feet in the air, knowing that one slip of the foot could be a fatal mistake.
The narrow walkway on Shifou Mountain in Hunan Province, China, is held together by wooden supports that sit in holes, which must first be drilled into the face of the mountain.
Of the workers assigned to this perilous task, most are locals who have lived and worked in the mountains all of their lives.
“Young people don’t want this job as it means we have to stay deep in the mountains for months, sometimes even years … But I don’t feel it’s so different from any other job. It’s not as dangerous as people think. You just wear the ropes, and then everything is okay,” said Ji Yu, 48, who has been doing this type of work for more than a decade.
Another mountain path along another mountain depicted in the video below is similar, but not quite as long as this one.
When completed, this path will run nearly two miles, making it the longest of its kind in China.
One question remains: Would YOU cross this footpath when it is completed?
To each his own, but insurance rates must be high for those employed in this kind of work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think I'll give this adventure a pass.....

Today's funny :o)

LOL! Wonder what the little tyke is thinking about doing.......

That old stump!

Remember that stump that Hubby tried to dig out?

Well, it was just too darn big and heavy!

So we decided to make a small fire pit!

Hubby took the cinder blocks that I plant the potatoes in and made a circle around it just to get an idea of the size it would be.

Went to Home Depot to get red stones to fill in the middle. Now we need  more cinder blocks to make an outer ring around that one. When it's all level, he'll cement everything together. We have a lot of cap stones in the back and they will be placed on top of the blocks.  We also bought one of those round stoves to put in the middle of it.

When it's all done, it will be a nice place to sit outside on cool nights. (And make S'mores!)

:o)

Stayin' Alive!

Kudos to the person that did the editing on this to the Bee Gees' song!  Saw this clip when I was looking for old musicals  to watch on You Tube. From an era when movie stars had real talent!
I miss those days, don't you?  ~ CM



Source from: http://www.biography.com/people/rita-hayworth-9332633

 

American film actress Rita Hayworth is best known for her stunning explosive sexual charisma on screen in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

Quotes:

“I always considered myself as a comedienne who could dance.”

—Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth - Mini Biography (TV-PG; 3:02) After Co-starring with Cary Grant in the 1939 film Only Angels Have Wings, Rita Hayworth was dubbed "The Great American Love Goddess" by LIFE Magazine. From 1944 to 1947, Hayworth was named one of the top box office draws in the world.

Synopsis

American film bombshell Rita Hayworth was born October 17, 1918. Trained as a dancer, she hit stardom as an actress with her appearance in The Strawberry Blonde (1941). She is best known for her performance in Charles Vidor's Gilda (1946). Her career ended with Ralph Nelson's The Wrath of God (1972). Hayworth died of Alzheimer's disease on May 14, 1987.

Early Years

A legendary Hollywood actress whose beauty catapulted her to international stardom in the 1940s and 1950s, Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918, in New York City. She changed her last name to Hayworth early on in her acting career on the advice of her first husband and manager, Edward Judson.
Hayworth hailed from show business stock. Her father, the Spanish-born Eduardo Cansino, was a dancer, and her mother, Volga, had been a Ziegfeld Follies girl. Soon after their daughter was born, they shortened her name to Rita Cansino. By the time Rita was 12 she was dancing professionally.
Still a young girl, Rita moved with her family to Los Angeles and eventually joined her father on the stage in nightclubs both in the United States and in Mexico. It was on a stage in Agua Caliente, Mexico, that a Fox Film Company producer spotted the 16-year-old dancer and inked her to a contract.
Rita Cansino, as she was still known, made her film debut in 1935 with Under the Pampas Moon, which was followed by a string of other films including Dante's Inferno (1935) with Spencer Tracy, Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935), Meet Nero Wolfe (1936), and Human Cargo (1936).
In 1937 she married Judson, a man 22 years older than her, who would set the stage for his young wife's future stardom. On his advice, Rita not only changed her last name, but also dyed her hair auburn. Judson worked the phones and managed to get Hayworth plenty of press in newspapers and magazines, and eventually helped her get a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures.

International Star

After a few disappointing roles in several mediocre films, Hayworth landed an important role as an unfaithful wife opposite Cary Grant in Only Angels Have Wings (1939). Critical praise came Hayworth's way. So did more movie offers.
Just two years after the relatively unknown actress shared the screen with Grant, Hayworth was a star herself. Her stunning, sensual looks greatly helped, and that year Life magazine writer Winthrop Sargeant nicknamed Hayworth "The Great American Love Goddess."
The moniker stuck, and only helped further her career and the fascination many male movie fans had with her. In 1941 Hayworth took the screen opposite James Cagney in Strawberry Blonde. That same year she shared the dance floor with Fred Astaire in You'll Never Get Rich. Astaire later called Hayworth his favorite dance partner.
The following year Hayworth starred in three more big films: My Gal Sal, Tales of Manhattan, and You Were Never Lovelier.
Hayworth's high-voltage power of seduction was affirmed in 1944 when a photograph of her in Life magazine wearing black lace became the unofficial pin-up photo for American servicemen serving overseas in World War II.
For her part, Hayworth didn't shy away from the attention. "Why should I mind?" she said. "I like having my picture taken and being a glamorous person. Sometimes when I find myself getting impatient, I just remember the times I cried my eyes out because nobody wanted to take my picture at the Trocadero."
Her stardom peaked in 1946 with the film Gilda, which cast her opposite Glenn Ford. A favorite of film noir fans, the film was chock-full of sexual innuendo, which included a controversial (tame by today's standards) striptease by Hayworth.
The following year she starred in another film noir favorite, The Lady From Shanghai, which was directed by her then-husband, Orson Welles.
Hayworth starred in more than fifteen films in the two decades following The Lady From Shanghai, including Miss Sadie Thompson (1953), Pal Joey (1957), Separate Tables (1958), and Circus World (1964) for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination.

Failed Loves

Hayworth's marriage to Welles in 1943 and subsequent divorce from the director and actor in 1948 garnered plenty of press. It was Hayworth's second marriage, and with Welles she had a daughter, Rebecca.
It was during the filming of The Lady From Shanghai that Hayworth filed for divorce from Welles. In court documents she claimed, "he showed no interest in establishing a home. When I suggested purchasing a home, he told me he didn't want the responsibility. Mr. Welles told me he never should have married in the first place; that it interfered with his freedom in his way of life."
But Hayworth had also met and fallen in love with Prince Aly Khan, whose father was the head of the Ismaili Muslims. A statesman and a bit of a playboy, Khan eventually served as Pakistan's representative to the United Nations.
Hayworth and Khan married in 1949 and had a daughter together, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan. After divorcing Khan after just two years of marriage, Hayworth later married and divorced the singer Dick Haymes. Her fifth and final marriage was to movie producer James Hill.

Later Years

As her personal life was dogged by turmoil, her acting career sputtered. Periodic film roles did come her way, but they failed to capture magic and project the kind of star power her earlier work once had. In all, Hayworth appeared in more than 40 films, the last of which was the 1972 release The Wrath of God.
In 1971 she briefly attempted a stage career, but it was quickly halted when it was apparent that Hayworth was unable to memorize her lines.
Hayworth's diminished skills as an actress were largely chalked up to what many believed was a severe alcohol problem. Her deteriorating state made headlines in January 1976 when the actress, appearing disheveled and out of sorts, was escorted off a plane.
That same year a California court, citing Hayworth's alcohol issues, named an administrator for her affairs.
But alcohol was only one of the factors ruining her life. Hayworth was also suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which doctors diagnosed her as having in 1980. A year later she was placed under the care of her daughter, Princess Yasmin, who used her mother's condition as a catalyst for increasing awareness of Alzheimer's disease. In 1985, Yasmin helped organize Alzheimer's Disease International, and eventually helmed the group as its president.
After years of struggle Hayworth died on May 14, 1987, in the apartment she shared with her daughter in New York City. Her passing elicited an outpouring of appreciation from fans and fellow actors.
"Rita Hayworth was one of our country's most beloved stars," President Ronald Reagan said upon hearing of Hayworth's death. "Glamorous and talented, she gave us many wonderful moments on the stage and screen and delighted audiences from the time she was a young girl. Nancy and I are saddened by Rita's death. She was a friend whom we will miss."

sf

Today's funny :o)

H/T to Wild River!

Added wild river. Press backspace to remove.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto walked into a saloon and sat down to drink a beer.

After a few minutes, a big tall cowboy walked in and said "Who owns the big white horse outside?"
The Lone Ranger stood up, hitched his gun belt, and said "I do....why?"

The cowboy looked at the Lone Ranger and said, "I just thought you’d like to know that your
horse is about dead outside!"

The Lone Ranger and Tonto rushed outside and sure enough, Silver was ready to die from heat exhaustion.
The Lone Ranger got the horse water and soon Silver was starting to feel a little better.

The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and said, "Tonto, I want you to run around Silver and see if you
can create enough of a breeze to make him start to feel better." Tonto said, "Sure, Kemosabe" and took
off running circles around Silver.

Not able to do anything else but wait, the Lone Ranger returned to the saloon to finish his drink.

A few minutes later, another cowboy struts into the bar and asks, "Who owns that big white horse outside?"
The Lone Ranger stands again, and claims, "I do, what's wrong with him this time?"

(..I JUST LOVE THIS PART....)

"Nothing, but you left your injun runnin!"

Apples

It's that time of year again for Hubby and I to go get our apples. We always buy from a local farm that has wonderful orchards full of different varieties. They have free hayrides to get there and you can pick them yourself. This year we just bought from the stand. Of course, we bought home 1/2 gallon of their own home made chilled apple cider. It is soooo good!

 This is one of the best run farms in New Jersey. And it's only 5 minutes from our house!

 They have several large herds of dairy cows, too.

 Hubby walking up to the farm stand:

 They have petting zoo for kids that have never seen a cow....

 

 or a chicken....

or a goat. 

 
There was a big bus parked on the side loaded with city kids. They were so cute to watch as they petted the animals. There was even a corn maze for them to try their luck in.  We got such a kick hearing them squeal with delight!

Plenty of old farm equipment to keep the men happy.

It was a nice way to spend an hour outside on a perfect fall day!

:o)

Easy Listening for a Sunday Afternoon

Sarah Vaughan

Saturday Night Doo-Wop

The Isley Brothers!

(Sorry - just couldn't resist)

From: Wikipedia

The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers on the Clay Cole Show in 1962
Background information
Also known as	The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley AKA "Mr. Biggs" The Isleys
Origin	Cincinnati, Ohio Teaneck, New Jersey
Genres	Doo-wop, rock and roll, R&B, soul, rock, funk, gospel
Years active	1954–present
Labels	Motown Records, T-Neck, Warner Bros., Def Soul
Members	Ronald Isley Ernie Isley Rudolph Isley Chris Jasper
Past members	O'Kelly Isley, Jr. (deceased) Vernon Isley (deceased) Marvin Isley (deceased)

Friday Night Steam

Source:  http://www.american-rails.com/climax.html

Ohio Match Company #3 is seen here in Garwood, Washington during July of 1937. This Climax is a Class B model.

The origins of the Climax are credited to Charles Darwin Scott who worked at sawmills located in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania. Around 1878 he began experimenting with his geared-locomotive design that could be put to practical use in logging applications, similar to the Shay which was first sold in 1880. After believing he had a useful design, Scott decided to market it to the Climax Manufacturing Company whose plant was located less than 10 miles away in Corry, Pennsylvania (the company was soon renamed as the Climax Locomotive Works after it began producing locomotives on a large-scale basis). A prototype was completed in March of 1888 and sold to Imel, Powers & Shank who had logging operations near Scandia, Pennsylvania at Hodge Run in Warren County.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More information on the Heisler steam engine can be found here:
http://gearedsteam.com/heisler/heisler.htm


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

ALCO #17 - Rod Locomotive  (MIKADO 2-8-2T)

Soon after delivery of the locomotive to the Crossett Western Company of Wauna, OR in 1929, much of the Crossett timber lands were involved in the series of major forest fires known as the Tillamook Burn. The little saddle tank engine worked throughout the 1930’s and early 40’s hauling out the salvaged timber from the burn. In 1942 the locomotive was sold to the Hammond Lumber Co. of Samoa CA. and renumbered as #17.  Once again fire played an important role in it’s life when, in 1945, a large fire burned out a series of trestles while the locomotive was sitting in a woods logging camp known as “The Gap” It was determined that the cost to rebuild the trestles was too great and #17 was left sitting in the middle of the camp unused for years. In 1965 a local mill owner named Gus Peterson purchased #17 from its current owner Georgia Pacific.  Mr. Peterson built a road into the old campsite, dismantled the engine and trucked it out piece-by-piece.  Mr. Peterson quickly went to work reassembling and restoring her to operation. On September 27, 1966 #17 operated under her own power for the first time since the forest fire of 1945 and for the next few years operated on Mr. Peterson’s tourist line known as the Klamath & Hoppow Valley RR. The gasoline shortages of the 1970’s spelled the end of the Klamath & Hoppow Valley and the #17 was mothballed again. In 1980 it, along with 2 other locomotives were sold to Tacoma lumberman Tom Murray Jr.  Mr. Murray had the 17 disassembled and shipped by truck to Tacoma, WA. and then sent on to the shops of the Mount Rainier Scenic RR. During the 80’s the #17 sat outside the shops while restoration work on other locomotives progressed.  Work finally began in 1994 and finally in January 1995 a fire was lit in the #17’s boiler and she joined the other operating locomotives of the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad. To this day she is a mainstay of the summer operations of the Railroad.  Source: http://www.sierrascalemodels.com/Gallery/Rainier/Alco.htm

 

Today's funny :o)

This 'N That

Sophia and Maude:

 Laverne and Shirley taking an afternoon nap:

 Flowers are still blooming:

 The mums have buds - they will be the next to bloom. Don't remember 

what color they are - I'll be surprised!

 The dogwood leaves are turning and falling off already.

 Have no idea what these are, but they are pretty and can stay!

 The hydrangea did not do well this year at all:

 Still getting delicious basil!

Just had to smile when I saw the dandelion!

And, of course, there has to be a pic of Charlie!

Today or this weekend, I'll power wash the coop and make some repairs. The cold will be here soon enough and I want to take advantage of this nice weather.

Indianapolis, Indiana

As you probably know by now, I am a big fan of Google Earth. I like to "visit" places all over the world and look for old or odd buildings.
I found this one in Indianapolis. It takes up an entire city block!

One side is painted to look like the rest of the building - first time I have seen this in ages.

 The stonework is just beautiful - wish I could have been able to zoom in closer.

 Another angle of the painted side:

 The stained glass windows must be beautiful from the inside when the sun shines through them.

 Such an odd building - so glad I found it!

Think I'll "visit" this city again soon!

:o)